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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF 


COMMODORE  BYRON  MCCANDLESS 


THE    LIFE 


ULEIC    ZWINGLI, 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  GERMAN 


JEA.ISr    OROB 


NEW  YORK: 

FUNK    &    WAGNALLS,    Publishers, 
10  AND  12  Dey  Street. 

1883. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18S3,  by 

FUNK  &  WAGNALLS, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


SM"? 


PREFACE. 


The  present  is  honored  in  appreciating  the  past.  But 
the  records  of  bygone  days  are  largely  made  up  of  the 
'  deeds  of  individuals  whose  true  greatness  is  estimated  by 
the  beneficence  of  their  acts.  If  worthy,  they  should  be 
held  in  everlasting  renaembrance.  Such  is  the  righteous 
treatment  bestowed  by  every  generation  deserving  of  the 
inheritance  of  heroic  ancestors. 

Well-nigh  the  entire  civihzed  world  recently  honored 
the  memory  of  one  of  the  moral  heroes  of  the  race. 
The  four  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  another 
is  at  hand. 

Ulric  Zwingli,  the  Reformer  of  Switzerland,  merits 
the  gratitude  of  every  lover  of  civil  and  religious  liberty. 
For  the  highest  welfare  of  his  Fatherland  on  earth  and 
for  his  best  interests  in  his  Fatherland  in  Heaven,  he 
lived  and  died  a  true  patriot  and  a  sincere  Christian. 

It  is  the  design  of  this  volume  to  present  a  reliable 
record  of  the  man,  in  Church  and  State,  without  enter- 
ing into  the  details  of  political  questions  or  theological 
problems. 

Owing  to  the  shortness  of  time  for  publication,  the 
work  of  translation  was  divided  between  the  ReVs.  I.  K. 


1 028021 


IV  PREFACE. 

Loos  and  G.  F.   Belirino^er.     To  the  latter  was  assigned 
the  task  of  editing  the  whole. 

In  justice  to  the  author,  the  Rev.  J.  Grob,  it  is  due  to 
state  that  portions  of  the  original  of  a  doctrinal  and  con- 
troversial nature  were  omitted  in  the  ti'anslation,  be- 
cause of  the  undenominational  character  of  the  "  Stand- 
ard Library,"  of  which  this  volume  forms  a  part. 

G.  F.  B. 

Bbookltn,  Dec.  25th,  1883. 


OONTEI^TS. 


FAOZ 

CHAPTER  I. 
Ulkic  Zwingli's  Fatherland 7 

CHAPTER  II. 
Zwingli's  Parentage  and  Home, 18 

CHAPTER  III. 
Zwingli's  Boyhood— His  First  Fifteen  Years,         .        ,      29 

CHAPTER  IV. 

ZWINGLI   AT  THE   UNIVERSITIES   OP   ViENNA   AND   BaSEL,    .  30 

CHAPTER  V. 
From  Basel  to  Glarus, 35 

CHAPTER  VI. 
From  Glarus  to  Einsiedeln, 43 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Zwingli's  Connection  with  Rome — Sad  Results,       .        .      53 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Other  Preparatory  Circumstances,       ....  61 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Quiet  Beginnings, 67 

CHAPTER  X. 
From  Einsiedeln  to  Zürich, 73 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Great  Reputation  in  Switzerland  and  Abroad,     .        .      79 


vi  CONTENTS. 

FAOB 

CHAPTER  XII. 
D-VNGEROus  Illness, 88 

CHAPTER  Xlll. 
Two  Hostile  Schemes,    ........      91 

CHAPTER  XIY. 
First  Fruits  op  his  Labor, 96 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Great  Discussions  at  Zürich  and  their  Consequences,      101 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
ZwiNGLi's  Standpoint  over  against  Luther,         .        .         135 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Attempts  at  Murder, 189 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
The  Marburg  Conference, 147 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
The  First  War  of  Kappel, 155 

CHAPTER  XX. 
ZwiNGLi  AT  Home 163 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

ZwiNGLi's  Teachings  and  Writings, 169 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
ZwiNGLi's  Death  at  Kappel, 174 


Chronological  Table 196 

Index, 197 


THE  LIFE  OF  ULRIC  ZWI1\'GLI. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ULEIC    ZWINGLl's    FATHEELAND. 

The  outline  of  Europe  may  be  compared  to  tliat  of  a 
maiden  in  a  sitting  posture.  Beautiful  Switzerland 
forms  the  heart  of  this  maiden.  It  is  the  native  country 
of  the  man  of  whom  this  volume  will  relate  great,  won- 
derful, and  truly  divine  things. 

From  the  remotest  times  of  its  history,  Switzerland 
seems  to  have  been  inhabited.  In  primitive  ages,  how- 
ever, the  people  chiefly  occupied  the  highlands,  the  low- 
lands consisting  of  swamps  and  forests.  But  the  names 
of  the  tribes  which  iirst  selected  Switzerland  as  a  per- 
manent place  of  abode  are  not  known.  Six  centuries 
before  the  birth  of  Christ,  Rhfetius,  prince  of  an 
Etruscan  race  which  had  occupied  Italy  as  far  as  the 
Alps,  fleeing  witli  many  of  his  nobles  and  warriors  be- 
fore the  wild  and  brave  Gauls — -who  dwelt  beyond 
Mount  Jura  and  Lake  Geneva,  and  who  had  overrun 
upper  Italy  and  conquered  the  Etruscans  in  bloody  battles 
— came  from  Italy  across  the  Alps.  He  found  a  peace- 
ful reception,  and  from  this  time  forward  the  inhabitants, 
out  of  respect  to  him,  called  themselves  Rhößtians^  and 
the  country  HJuetia.  The  primitive  inhabitants  whom 
he  met    placed  no  obstacles  in  his  way,  but  gradually 


8  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXQLI. 

adopted  the  customs  and  language  of  these  fugitives. 
Thus  the  Rhaätians  gradually  grew  to  a  numerous  and 
warlike  people,  and  spread  themselves  victoriously  in  all 
directions.  Their  boundaries  extended,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Alps,  from  the  sources  of  the  Rhine  to  Lakes 
Wallen  and  Constance,  and  far  into  the  modern  Tyrol  ; 
on  the  south  to  Lake  Como  and  the  river  Adige. 

The  Rhsetians,  moreover,  were  divided  into  numerous 
small  tribes,  which  for  the  common  defence  of  their 
country  formed  themselves  into  a  confederacy.  The 
leaders  of  the  united  people  dwelt  in  castles  erected  on 
almost  inaccessible  rocks.  The  Rhsetians  were  no 
strangers  to  agriculture.  The  sunny  soil  was  well  adapted 
to  it,  while  the  green  mountain,  sides  invited  to  grazing. 
Vine  culture  also  received  attention.  The  Emperor 
Augustus,  who  in  a  later  age  conquered  the  Rhaetians, 
was  a  lover  of  Rhsetian  wine. 

Their  nearest  neighbors  on  the  west  were  the  Helve- 
tians, of  the  same  lineage  as  the  Gauls,  who  dwelt  be- 
yond the  Jura  Mountains  and  Lake  Geneva.  The 
Helvetians  occupied  tvrelve  cities  and  four  hundred  \al- 
lages,  and  numbered  about  two  hundred  and  sixty-three 
thousand  souls.  They  submitted  about  the  year  58  b.c. 
to  the  Romans,  by  whom  vineyards  were  planted,  roads 
laid  out,  and  Roman  customs,  culture,  and  language  in- 
troduced. Forty-two  years  later  the  Rhaetians  also  sub- 
mitted to  the  Emperor  Augustus,  and  remained  under 
the  Roman  government  five  hundred  years,  until  476 
A.D.,  when  the  last  Roman  emperor  was  dethroned  and 
jiart  of  Helvetia  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  still  savage 
Alemanni,  and  part  into  the  hands  of  the  Burgundiahs, 
who  had  already  been  converted  to  Christianity.  The 
name  of  the  HelvetiarbS  was  extinguished.  They  had 
been  slain  bv  the  sword  or  reduced  to  servitude,  and 


ULRIC    ZWINGLl'S   FATHERLAND.  9 

their  formerly  flourishing  cities,  Wifflisburg,  Windisch, 
Angst,  and  very  many  others,  fell  into  ruin  and  decay. 
Thus  nations  disappear.  New  generations  dwell  upon 
their  graves.  Joyfully  the  farmer  drives  his  plough 
over  the  relics  of  a  former  age,  and  here  and  there  strikes 
against  remarkable  monuments  of  it,  as  at  Knonau, 
Maschwanden,  Mettmenstetten,  Affoltern,  and  Windisch. 

But  from  the  ruins  of  the  disappearing  ancient  world, 
the  Christian  Church  shines  triumphantly  upon  us  as  the 
preserver  and  propagator  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Crucified 
Saviour.  Upon  it  and  by  it  the  modern  world  was 
founded.  In  very  early  times  the  Gospel  came  to 
Ehgetia.  The  first  herald  of  the  Faith  was  St.  Lucius. 
Other  missionaries  followed  him,  among  whom  was  St. 
Gaudentius. 

In  Helvetia  too,  as  early  as  the  time  of  the  Roman 
supremacy,  Christianity  was  proclaimed.  One  of  the 
first  missionaries  there  M'as  St.  Beatus,  who,  after  having 
preached  the  Gospel  in  various  places,  retired  to  a  cave 
near  Lake  Thun,  which  still  continues  to  bear  his  name. 
Ursus  and  Victor  brought  the  Gospel  to  Solothurn, 
Felix  and  Regula  to  Zürich,  and  still  others  to  other 
places.  In  Geneva,  Martigny  in  Wallis  (Vallais),  Aven- 
ticum,  Raurika,  and  Windisch,  bishoprics  were  estab- 
lished, which  were  afterward  removed  to  Sitten, 
Lausanne,  Basel,  and  Constance.  The  terrible  inroads  of 
the  heathen  Alemanni,  who  devastated  the  country  and 
destroyed  the  inhabitants,  ruined  most  of  these  Christian 
congregations.  The  Burgundians  and  these  Alemanni 
furnished  a  new  population  to  Helvetia. 

Then  new  missionaries  arrived  from  neighboring 
France  and  distant  England  and  Ireland.  Thus  St. 
Germanus  came  into  the  valleys  of  the  Jura,  through 
which  flows  the  Birse  ;  St.  Immerius  came  into  a  valley 


10  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

at  the  foot  of  Mount  Chasseral,  watered  hj  the  Reuss  ; 
Romanus  and  Lupizinus  came  into  the  wilds  of  Jura,  not 
far  from  Orbe  ;  and  where  these  pious  men  lived  and 
labored  arose  cloisters  and  villages — Münster,  St.  Inier, 
Komammotiers.  Distinguished  above  all  is  St.  Gallus, 
for  he  became  the  founder  of  the  monastery  of  St.  Gall. 
About  A.D.  640,  one  of  his  companions,  Sigisbert,  founded 
the  church  of  the  Schattdorf,  in  the  Canton  of  Uri,  and 
the  monastery  of  Disentis,  in  which  undertaking  St. 
Placidus,  a  rich  man  of  that  region,  supported  him.  Yic- 
tor  I. ,  Count  of  Chur,  placed  all  j^ossible  obstacles  in  the 
way  of  these  godly  men,  and  caused  St.  Placidus  to  be 
beheaded. 

^  These  missionaries  were  always  travelling,  partly  to 
confirm  the  faithful,  partly  to  win  additional  souls  ;  and, 
disregarding  all  misery,  even  persecution  and  death,  they 
established  cloisters  and  schools  ;  and  the  enthusiasm 
which  they  awakened  continued  in  its  good  effects  dur- 
ing succeeding  centuries.  And  when  Christianity  had 
long  been  established  in  Switzerland,  new  cloisters  con- 
tinued to  be  erected  up  to  the  highest  solitudes.  In 
those  dark  ages  these  cloisters  were  for  a  time  radiant 
centres  of  light  for  the  preservation  and  spread  of  Chris- 
tianity. In  the  course  of  time,  however,  when  the  pres- 
ents and  bequests  of  the  faithful  enriched  them  more 
and  more,  they  lost  their  good  old  spirit,  the  love  of  the 
world  gained  control  of  them  also,  and  swerved  them 
from  their  original  design.  After  the  death  of  Charle- 
magne,"^ who  had  consolidated  Germany,  France,  and 
Italy  into  one  kingdom,  Rh^tia  and  Helvetia  were  in- 
corporated with  the  German  kingdom.  Burgundy  fol- 
lowed  in    the  year   1032,  and  from   this  time   forward 

*  Charlemagne  died  January  28,  a.d.  814. — L. 


ULRIO    ZWINGLl'S    FATHERLAND.  11 

entire  Switzerland  constitnted  a  part  of  the  German  Em- 
pire. Those  were  trying  times  for  the  generations  of 
that  early  period.  Neither  life  nor  property  was  safe  ; 
neither  divine  nor  human  laws  were  regarded  ;  might 
made  right  ;  the  law  of  the  sword  reigned  snpreme.  It 
began  then,  and  continued  its  sway  for  centuries.  Only 
in  constant  dread  could  the  weak  pass  their  fleeting  exist- 
ence. Mighty  strongholds,  whose  ruins  to  this  day  look 
mournfully  down  into  the  valleys,  were  erected  on  ele- 
vated places,  on  mountains  and  ledges  of  rocks.  In 
locating  them,  greater  reference  was  had  to  their  safety 
and  strength,  or,  if  designed  as  a  haunt  for  robbers,  to 
concealment,  than  to  comfort.  The  principal  apart- 
ments of  such  a  castle  were  the  hall  of  the  knights,  the 
armory,  the  dungeon,  and  the  chapel.  The  walls  of  the 
ground  floor  were  very  strong,  and  served  as  ramparts. 
On  the  outside  there  were  no  windows — all  the  windows 
opening  on  the  inside  toward  the  courtyard.  Here  were 
the  stables  for  the  horses,  the  cellar  and  rooms  for  the 
servants.  The  only  way  into  and  out  of  the  castle  was 
over  a  drawbridge,  which  was  always  up  when  not  in 
use.  To  open  and  close  it  there  was  a  watchman  at  the 
gate  day  and  night,  and  another  stationed  in  the  tower, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  note  what  was  passing  near  at  hand 
and  at  a  distance.  The  watchmen  and  servants  in  the 
castle  were  under  the  command  of  a  castellan,  or 
governor,  who  was  responsible  for  their  good  behavior 
and  safety.  The  most  dreadful  place  in  the  castle  was 
the  dungeon  in  which  captives  were  kept.  Seldom  if 
ever  did  a  single  ray  of  sunlight  penetrate  into  these  dark 
dens  of  torture,  in  which  the  unfortunate  slowly  lan- 
guished and  died. 

The  most  spacious  room   in  the  castle  was  the  hall  of 
the    knights.     Here     hung     the    trophies    which     tlic 


12  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIKGLI. 

knightly  owner  liad  won  in  numerous  encounters  with 
his  foes.  Here  lie  entertained  his  guests,  and  enjoyed 
himself,  after  the  wild  play  at  arms,  in  feasting  and 
drinking.  In  the  armory  hung  offensive  and  defensive 
weapons,  swords,  helmets,  coats-of-mail,  lances,  etc.,  for 
knights,  escpiires,  and  servants.  If  there  was  no  quarrel, 
no  tournament,  no  adventure,  no  predatory  expedition, 
and  if  the  time  was  not  favorable  for  hunting,  or  the 
storms  of  winter  swept  into  the  lonely  castle,  fatal  ennui 
entered  there,  and  the  knight  vainly  sought  relief  in 
games  at  dice. 

About  seventy-eight  years  after  the  death  of  the 
Emperor  Frederick  I.*  the  power  of  the  counts  and 
feudal  governors  ceased.  The  race  of  the  dukes  of 
Swabia  had  become  extinct.  The  spirit  of  hberty  and 
independence  began  to  stir  more  mightily  in  these 
Alpine  regions.  Then  Rudolph  of  Hapsburg  was  born, 
May  Ist,  1218,  whose  descendants  to  this  day  occupy  the 
throne  of  Austria,  while  the  ruins  of  their  ancestral 
castle,  "Hapsburg,"  look  down  from  the  edge  of 
Mount  Wulpel  into  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Aar,  as  if 
to  say  :  "  When  those  who  formerly  commanded  here 
had  learned  abroad  to  domineer,  and  attempted  it  also  in 
this  their  ancestral  home,  they  aroused  the  spirit  of  Free- 
dom ;  it  came  and  crushed  the  cradle  of  their  house." 
RudoljDh  was  a  brave  man,  and  his  fame  was  sounded  far 
beyond  the  bounds  of  his  native  land.  In  the  year  1273 
he  was  chosen  Emperor  of  Germany,  and  received  the 
news  of  his  election  just  as  he  began  to  lay  siege  to  the 
city  of  Basel.  He  at  once  made  peace  with  the  city  and 
entered  on  his  imperial  government.  He  introduced 
good  order,  restrained  the  law  of  the  sword,  destroyed 

*  Died  June  10,  1190.— L. 


ULllIC    ZWINGLl's    FATHERLAND.  13 

the  ro])bGr8'  castles,  and  ordered  the  knightly  robbers  to 
be  hanged.  This  severity  produced  good  results. 
Peace  prevailed  in  the  country  during  his  entire  life.  In 
Argau,  Zürich,  and  Thurgau,  in  Gastel,  the  March, 
Glarus,  Zug,  Luzerne,  and  in  the  three  Forest  Cantons — 
Uri,  Schwyz,  and  Unterwaiden — he  had  many  manors, 
possessions  and  privileges.  He  confirmed  and  increased 
the  ancient  liberties  and  privileges  of  the  cities  and  coun- 
try districts.  He  gained  by  conquest  Austria,  Steiermark, 
Carinthia,  and  Carniola.     He  died  July  25th,  1291. 

His  son,  Emperor  Albert,  was  of  a  different  disposi- 
tion. He  deprived  the  three  Forest  Cantons  of  their 
rights  and  liberties.  He  also  sent  cruel  lieutenants  to 
govern  them— Beringer  of  Landenberg  to  Unterwaiden, 
and  Gessler  of  Branek  to  Schwyz  and  Uri.  In  vain  the 
three  cantons  complained  of  the  oppression.  There  was 
no  relief.  Justly  indignant,  Conrad  Baumgartner  slew 
Wolfenschiess,  the  governor,  who  lived  in  the  Castle  of 
Rossberg,  and  fled  to  Uri.  Thither  also  fled  Arnold  of 
Melchthal  from  the  cruelty  of  Beringer  of  Landenberg, 
who  resided  in  the  Castle  of  Sarnen  ;  and  on  account  of 
this  flight,  as  Arnold  learned  afterward,  to  his  great 
grief,  the  eyes  of  his  poor  father  were  put  out  by 
command  of  the  governor.  Gessler,  riding  by  the  fine, 
newly  built  house  of  Werner  Stauflacker,  at  Steinen  in 
Schwyz,  called  out  to  the  owner,  whom  he  saw  at  work 
on  it,  "I  will  not  permit  farmers  to  build  houses  with- 
out my  consent,  and  to  act  as  if  they  were  free.  I  have 
the  power  to  check  this  evil  disposition."  These  words 
of  the  governor  caused  "Werner  Stauffacker  serious  re- 
flection. His  wife,  Margaret,  who  saw  his  concern,  said 
to  him,  "  Go  to  Uri,  to  Walter  Fuerst  and  other  honest 
friends,  and  consult  with-  them  how  the  three  districts 
may  be  relieved  of  their  misery."     Werner  went  to  Uri 


14  THK    LIFE    OK   TLKIC    ZWIXGLI. 

and  consulted  witli  his  friends.  Soon  afterward  the 
three  men,  "Walter  Fnerst  of  IJri,  "Werner  Stauffacker  of 
Schwyz,  and  Arnold  of  Melchthal,  came  by  night  from 
Unterwaiden  to  a  secluded  mountain  meadow  on  the 
Rütli,  each  accompanied  by  ten  trusty  men,  and  here  by 
solemn  oath  they  formed  a  perpetual  league  :  "  That 
they  would  faithfully  stand  by  one  another,  and  devote 
their  property  and  blood  to  free  the  three  Cantons  from 
the  tyranny  of  the  governors,  and  to  keep  them  free  for- 
ever." January  1st,  130S,  was  appointed  as  the  time 
for  the  general  uprising  of  the  people.  Meanwhile  at 
Altdorf,  in  Uri,  Oessler  ordered  a  hat  to  be  raised  on  a 
pole,  with  strict  orders  that  the  people  show  to  it  the 
same  reverence  as  to  himself.  William  Tell,  a  citizen 
of  Biii'glen,  refused  to  bow  before  the  hat  of  the  tyrant, 
and  was  condemned  to  shoot  an  apple  from  the  head  of 
his  own  son.  Tell  hit  the  apple  ;  but  when  Gessler  saw 
that  he  had  another  arrow  in  his  waistcoat,  he  asked 
what  he  intended  to  do  with  it,  assuring  him  that  his  life 
should  suffer  no  harm  if  he  told  the  truth.  Tell  an- 
swered :  ''  That  arrow  was  intended  for  you,  if  I  had 
killed  my  child,  and  you  I  should  certainly  not  have 
missed."  Upon  this  Gessler  ordered  him  to  be  chained 
and  brought  to  the  boat  on  which  he  sailed  to  Kuess- 
nacht.  A  fierce  storm  arose  ;  the  boat  seemed  lost,  and 
only  Tell,  who  was  as  skilful  a  steersman  as  marksman, 
could  save  those  on  board  with  him.  His  chains  were 
removed.  As  soon  as  he  was  free,  helm  in  hand,  he 
steered  the  boat  hard  by  a  flat  rock  which  still  bears  his 
name.  With  one  bound  he  was  on  shore,  leaving  the 
boat  to  wind  and  wave.  His  concern  now  was  to  save 
his  life  from  the  vengeance  of  the  governor.  At  the 
narrow  pass  near  Kuessnacht  Tell  awaited  Gessler,  and 
there  his  arrow  pierced  the  tyrant's  heart. 


ULRIC    ZWIXGLl's    FATHERLAND.  15 

On  ISTew  Yecar's  day,  1308,  the  people  rose  in  the 
three  Cantons,  took  possession  of  the  strongholds,  and 
sent  away  the  governors  with  their  goods  and  servants 
unharmed,  after  they  had  solemnly  sworn  never  more  to 
enter  the  country,  nor  take  revenge  for  what-  had  just 
been  done.  In  the  spring  of  the  same  year  the  Em- 
peror Albert  came  to  Baden,  in  xlargau.  He  was  on  his 
way  to  meet  his  wife,  who  was  going  from  Hheinfelden 
to  Brugg.  His  nephew,  Duke  John  of  Austria,  was  ap- 
prised of  it,  and  secretly  told  the  nobles  who  had  con- 
spired with  him  against  the  Emperor  :  "  He  rides  toward 
Brugg. ' '  The  conspirators  had  resolved  on  the  Emper- 
or's death.  They  accompanied  him,  crossed  the  river 
Reuss  with  him,  the  rest  of  his  attendants  remaining  be- 
hind, and  murdered  him  near  Windisch,  on  the  spot 
where  afterward  the  monastery  of  Königsfeld  was  built. 
A  curse  followed  this  deed. 

A  series  of  struggles  for  freedom  ensued  at  Morgar- 
ten,  Laupen,  Sempach,  and  Nafels.  Luzerne,  Glarus,  and 
Zug  joined  the  Riitli  league.  Zürich  and  Berne  follow- 
ed. The  alliance  of  the  eight  old  Cantons  of  the  Con- 
federacy was  thus  complete.  From  this  time  onward 
history  mentions  the  Helvetian  or  Swiss  Confederacy. 
Battles  were  fought  at  St.  Jacob's  on  the  Birse,  at  Gran- 
son,  and  Murten,  with  the  design  of  again  reducing  the 
Confederate  Cantons  to  subjection  to  the  House  of  Aus- 
tria ;  but  in  vain.  In  1481  the  League  had  increased 
by  the  reception  of  new  members  ;  Freiburg  and  Solo- 
thurn  joined  it.  Twenty  years  later  Basel  and  Schaff- 
hausen followed  ;  in  1518,  Appenzell — increasing  the 
Confederacy  to  thirteen  Cantons.  Basel  so  greatly  re- 
joiced in  the  League  that,  instead  of  the  numerous 
watchmen  formerly  stationed  at  the  city  gate,  a  woman 
with  a  spinning-wheel  was  placed  there  to  signify  how 


16  THE    LITE    OV    ULUIC    ZWINGLI. 

safe  ami  inapproacliaLlo  the  city  felt  since  its  reception 
into  the  Confederate  League; 

In  1803,  after  200  years  of  alternate  joy  and  sorrow, 
six  additional  Cantons  joined  the  Confederacy — Gri- 
sons,  Aargau,  Thurgau,  St.  Gall,  Vaud,  and  Ticino. 
Twelve  years  later  Wallis,  Neuenbürg,  and  Geneva  were 
received,  and  thus  the  number  of  Confederate  Cantons 
increased  to  twenty-two,  which  ratiöed  their  perpetual 
alliance  by  solemn  oaths  August  31st,  1815. 

In  this  sketch  we  have  rapidly  travelled  through  the 
Fatherland  of  Zwingli,  and  permitted  a  series  of  its 
events,  extending  over  centuries,  to  pass  in  review  before 
us.  In  the  history  of  its  heroic  deeds,  its  words  and 
works.  Providence  permits  a  people  to  see,  as  in  a  glass, 
its  good  and  evil  peculiarities,  its  virtues  and  faults,  its 
advantages  and  weaknesses,  right  aiid  wrong,  truth  and 
error,  times  of  joy  and  sadness,  and  much  more  besides, 
bringing  it  thus  to  self-consciousness,  and  calling  to  it  : 
"  In  vain  do  the  boldest  and  bravest  contend,  in  vain  do 
the  wisest  and  most  prudent  consult  and  resolve,  if  the 
Lord  withdraws  His  hand."  Bloody  tyranny  opj^ressed 
the  beautiful  Alpine  country  of  Switzerland  till  the 
Riitli  League  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  Swiss  Republic, 
which  is  now  5Y5  years  old. 

In  times  of  severe  distress  previous  to  1481:,  God 
raised  up  those  who  protected  the  cause  of  the  oppressed 
people.  Great  liberties  and  rights  had  already  been 
secured  for  them.  But  this  liberty  was  freedom  from 
secular  tyranny  alone.  Their  greatest  nobility  consisted 
in  being:  faithful  Confederates.  This  made  them  so 
strong  that  friendship  and  right  were  of  more  value  to 
them  than  all  else.  They  knew  as  yet  no  higher  dig- 
nity. With  all  their  patriotic  liberty  they  were  servants 
of  sin.      Spiritual  tyranny  oppressed  their  country  with 


ULRIC    ZWINÖLI'S    FATHEHLAND.  17 

a  weight  like  that  of  the  Alps.  Other  men  must  follow 
those  of  the  Rütli  League  with  a  high  and  holy  in- 
spiration for  freedom,  not  merely  from  the  tyrannical 
yoke  of  earthly  rulers,  but  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and 
the  most  grievous  corruption  of  morals.  Such  men 
came. 


CHAPTEK  II. 

ZWIXGLl's  PARENTAGE  AND  HOME. 

WiLDHAus  is  a  small  Alpine  village  at  tlie  eastern  end 
of  the  valley  of  the  Toggenburg,  which  valley  is  about 
thirty  miles  in  length,  elevated  2010  feet  above  Lake 
Zürich,  having  the  Tyrolese  Alps  in  the  east,  Mt,  Sentis 
on  the  North,  Kuhfirsten  with  its  seven  peaks  on  the 
south.  On  account  of  a  remarkable  historical  occur- 
rence this  village  has  always  been  gladly  visited  by  tour- 
ists in  Switzerland.  One  mile  from  the  church,  in  the 
centre  of  the  village,  to  the  left  of  the  road  leading  over 
the  Thur,  stands  in  a  green  meadow  a.  plainly-built, 
cheerful-looking  house,  with  slender  walls,  round  win- 
dow-lights, and  a  shingle  roof,  weighted  down,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  time,  with  stones.  In  this 
house  was  born  the  great  Reformer,  Dr.  Illric  Zwingli,  a 
man  whom  God  called  to  become  a  distinguished  teacher 
of  Christianity,  and  the  first  of  the  fathers  and  found- 
ers of  the  Reformed  Church. 

In  this  house  lived,  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  a  pious  couple,  the  parish  bailiff,  Ulric  Zwingli, 
and  his  wife  Margaret,  whose  maiden  name  was  Meili. 
His  brother  Bartholomew  was  pastor  at  Wildbaus,  and 
afterward  dean  at  Wesen,  where,  with  constantly  increas- 
ing reverence,  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office 
during  twenty-five  years.  The  wife  of  bailiff  Zwingli 
had  a  brother,  John  Meili,  who  was  for  thirteen  years 
abbot  of  the  monastery  at  Fischingen,  Canton  Thurgau, 


ZWINGLl's    PARENTAGE   AND    HOME.  19 

and  at  the  same  time  a  higlily  respected  divine.  The 
Zwingli  generation  was,  throughout  Switzerland,  "  a 
higlily-respected,  good,  and  honorable  family."  Bailiff 
Zwingli  was  sincerely  loved  by  the  entire  population. 
He  was  not  ashamed  of  honest  toil.  By  fidelity  and  in- 
dustry in  his  calling  he  set  the  inhabitants  of  the  Thur- 
gau  Alps  a  praiseworthy  example.  He  was  a  shepherd, 
"When  early  in  May  the  valleys  and  Alps  were  arrayed 
in  green,  Ulric  Zwingli,  the  parish  bailiif  and  patriarch 
of  Wildhaus,  could  no  longer  be  detained  in  the  vales 
below.  Accompanied  by  his  two  sons,  Heini  and  Claus, 
he  drove  his  flock  up  toward  the  green,  fresh  Alpine 
heights.  Rising  gradually  higher,  from  station  to  sta- 
tion, they  reached,  by  the  1st  of  August,  according  to 
custom,  the  upper  pastures  on  the  highest  peaks.  Then 
they  returned  slowly  down  the  mountain.  Toward  the 
end  of  October  the  flocks  had  again  returned  to  the  val- 
ley, and  were  ready  for  their  winter  quarters.  Let  no 
one  suppose,  however,  that  these  six  pasture-months 
were  without  their  interest.  On  fine  summer  days  the 
song-loving  school-children  of  Wildhaus  frequently 
formed  excursion  parties,  ascended  the  Alps,  visited 
their  fathers,  brothers,  friends,  enjoyed  the  delightful 
Alpine  air,  sang  their  Alpine  songs,  drank  Alpine  milk, 
and  amid  songs  and  the  clang  of  Alpine  horns  enjoyed 
life  and  amused  themselves  with  games,  jumping,  pluck- 
ing Alpine  roses,  and  then  returning  to  their  homes  in 
the  valley  to  ]3rosecute  their  domestic  labors,  attend  to 
their  gardens  and  meadows,  and  prepare  comfortable 
stables  for  their  cattle. 

Through  the  long  winter  months  also  bailiff  Zwingli 
well  understood  how  to  make  the  evenings  pass  pleas- 
antly to  himself,  his  Margaret,  liis  sons  Heini  and  Clans, 
and  the   other  citizens  of   Wildliaus.      In  ahnost  every 


•^U  TUK    I.IFli    OF    LLRIC    ZWINÜLI. 

hous?e  in  the  Swiss  valleys  and  on  the  mountains,  at  least 
one  person  knows  how  to  play  upon  some  musical  instru- 
ment. So  it  was  in  the  days  of  bailiff  Zwingli.  As  soon 
as  the  sun  had  disapj^eared  behind  the  fir-trees  and  dusky 
m'ght  had  settled  upon  the  Alps,  when  the  cattle  had 
been  attended  to  in  the  barns  and  the  day's  work  was 
done,  when  the  dreadfully  cold  mountain  blasts  daunted 
the  peaceful  inbabitants,  and  all,  before  retiring,  wished 
to  enjoy  an  liour  of  rest,  baihff  Zwingli  used  to  take  down 
his  guitar,  and  delight  with  its  music  the  young  and  the 
old,  assembled  for  a  joyous,  social  evening  hour.  By 
nearly  every  one  was  brought  a  musical  instrument  for 
mutual  entertainment,  music  from  which  was  interspersed 
Avitli  Alpine  songs  ;  and  if  the  bailiff  did  not  himself  do  it, 
some  one  of  those  present  related  a  fragment  of  patriotic 
history  of  the  years  of  public  oppression  and  want,  dur- 
ing which  the  country  and  people  suffered  for  more  than 
two  hundred  years  from  the  Hapsburg  governors,  till 
finally,  after  many  well-fought  battles,  they  com])eUed 
them  to  acknowledge  the  Swiss  as  a  free  and  indepen- 
dent people,  and  secured  this  freedom  by  the  Swiss  Con- 
fed<^.ration. 

It  is  plain  that  such  conversations  increased  the  patriot- 
ism of  the  inhabitants  of  the  mountains  ;  that  each  one 
rejoiced  anew  in  his  Swiss,  liberty-loving  blood,  was 
more  closely  united  to  his  country,  thought  and  spoke 
more  devotedly  of  it,  and  endeavored  to  increase  his  own 
and  others'  desire  for  the  welfare  of  his  Fatherland. 
The  liberty  of  these  mountain  j)eoi)le  cost  too  much  noble 
])lood  for  a  Swiss  ever  lightly  to  forget  the  history  of  his 
fathers.  The  history  of  the  past  afforded  them,  and 
will  always  afford  to  reasonable  persons,  insight,  power, 
and  courage.  It  places  the  old  dangers — alas  !  too  often 
forgotten,   yet  by  no  means  wholly  vanished — and  the 


ZWINGLl's    PARENTAGE   AND    HOME.  21 

remedy  for  them,  in  a  light  at  once  new  and  well  worthy 
of  calm  consideration.  Therefore  it  well  comports  with 
the  disposition  of  the  Swiss  gratefully  to  remember  in 
their  social  circles,  even  on  the  day  of  patriotic  rest  and 
national  peace,  the  Fathers  of  Morgarten,  Laupen, 
Nafels,  Sempach,  St.  Jacob  on  the  Birse,  Granson,  and 
Mnrten.  Thus  they  encouraged  each  other  in  love  for 
freedom,  religion,  and  their  native  land,  putting  to  the 
test  thereby,  exercising  and  indefinitely  increasing,  the 
power  of  the  individual  and  of  the  nation,  so  that  in 
times  of  national  confusion  all  the  arts  of  the  enemy 
might  be  confounded  by  a  courageous,  genuine  old 
Swiss  resistance.  Neither  youth  nor  old  age  was  ever 
permitted  to  imagine  that  all  troubles  were  past. 

With  such  winter  evening  considerations — summer 
and  autumn  gone  by — Ulric  Zwingli  and  his  Margaret 
and  their  two  sons  close  the  year  1483  in  the  village 
circle  of  Wildhaus.  The  last  day  of  the  year,  Decem- 
ber 31st,  a  Friday,  comes.  The  last  night  succeeds  the 
day.  From  the  steeple  of  the  Wildhaus  church  the  bell 
rings  out  into  the  holy  stillness  of  the  Old  Year's  night  ; 
for,  according  to  an  ancient  Swiss  custom,  the  last  hour 
of  the  expiring  year  was  proclaimed  by  the  ringing  of 
bells.  Bailiff  Zwingli  and  family  piously  fold  their 
hands  in  prayer.  The  light  is  extinguished,  and — all 
are  at  rest. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ZWIXGLI'S    BOYHOOD HIS    FIRST    FIFTEEN    YEAKS. 

Like  the  expiration  of  the  old,  the  l^eginning  of  the 
new  year  is  proclaimed  by  the  ringing  of  the  church 
bells — a  custom  which,  assisted  by  midnight  silence, 
seems  truly  venerable,  and  is  exceedingly  touching  to 
persons  of  advanced  age.  To  tliem  the  question  comes 
home  :  "  Will  this  ringing  out  of  the  old  and  ringing  in 
of  the  new  year  be  the  last  one  on  earth  for  me  ?" 
The  eyes  preparing  for  sleep  are  filled  with  tears.  The 
l^ast  life  of  from  sixty  to  eighty  years  is  again  reviewed. 
Old  memories  revive.  J^ow  one  thing,  then  another, 
presents  itself  in  a  lively  manner  to  the  soul — past  days 
of  domestic  joy,  the  anxiety  endured,  the  stars  of  hope 
once  sending  forth  a  bright  radiance,  only  as  suddenly 
to  disappear,  misunderstandings  in  the  narrow  circle  of 
friends,  etc.  To  these  reminiscences  is  often  added  a 
hasty  visit  to  the  grave  of  a  dear  departed  one,  till 
finally,  overcome  by  the  power  of  sleep,  the  eyes  are 
closed.  Whether  this  was  the  experience  of  the  brave 
bailiff  in  the  early  morning  hours  of  January  1st,  1484, 
we  cannot  definitely  say.  Having  arrived  at  the  age  of 
forty,  he  had  just  entered  upon  his  most  vigorous  man- 
hood, in  which,  as  experience  teaches,  there  are  fewer 
sighs  and  tears  than  fall  to  the  lot  of  one  between 
seventy  and  eighty  years  of  age.  Still  at  that  age  many 
things  may  have  happened,  outside  of  one's  domestic 
circle,  which  rob  the  days  of  joy  of  much  of  their  attract- 


ZVVINGH'S    nOYHOOD — HIS   FIRST    FIFTEEN    YEARS.     23 

iveness,  and  cause  the  otherwise  bravest  man  to  sigh  : 
"  All  flesh  is  grass,  and  all  the  goodliness  thereof  is  as  the 
flower  of  the  field  :  the  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth, 
because  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  bloweth  upon  it  ;  surely  the 
people  is  grass.  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth,. 
but  the  Word  of  our  God  shall  stand  forever." 

While  bailiff  Zwingli  and  his  family  slept  sweetly,  the 
new  year,  unperceived  in  its  a])proach,  began.  It  was 
the  year  1484,  and  the  first  of  January  was  destined  to 
be  a  day  of  unutterable  joy  to  the  patriarch  of  Toggen- 
burg.  Toward  noon  his  faithful,  noble  wife,  Margaret 
Meili,  told  her  Ulric  of  the  birth  of  a  lovely  little  boy. 
His  joy  was  great,  as  for  the  first  time  he  pressed  to  his 
bosom  the  pretty  babe,  with  its  long,  dark  hair,  prom- 
inent forehead,  dark,  clear  eyes,  closed  lips,  and  goodly 
form.  An  equal  pleasure  he  afterward  experienced 
when  he  discovered  that  the  little  boy  was  destined  to 
become  a  learned  man,  and  would  probably  never  watch, 
with  Heini  and  Claus,  his  father's  cattle  on  the  Sentis 
Alps,  and  for  recreation  play  the  Alpine  horn  and  sing  the 
herdman's  song.  But  moi"e  fervent  than  ever  his  joy 
would  have  been  if  he  had  foreseen  in  his  fair  offspring 
his  own  future  honor,  his  support,  the  staff  of  his  old 
age.  The  happy  father  now  had  three  sons — Heini, 
Claus,  and  the  babe.  Afterward  followed  Hans,  Wolf- 
gang, and  Bartholomew,  to  whom,  still  later,  two  other 
brothers,  Jacob  and  Andreas,  and  a  sister,  Anna,  were 
added.  Jacob  died  in  1517,  Andreas  in  1519.  The 
bailiff  found  it  a  pleasure  and  duty  to  prepare  for  the 
baptism  of  the  child.  As  his  brother,  Bartholomew, 
was  a  minister,  the  baptism  was  intrusted  to  his  care  and 
attended  to  by  him.  In  gi-ateful  joy  for  the  birth  of  his 
eon  on  New  Year's  day,  the  name  of  his  father — Ulric 
— was  given  to  him.      Little  Ulric  Avas  now  the  delight 


.24  THE    LIFE    OF    ULHIC    ZWINGLI. 

of  tlic  liouschold,  tlie  centre  of  attraction  to  all.  His 
health  M'as  good  ;  he  prospered  bodily  and  spiritually. 
Except  God,  who  created  him,  no  one  knew  what  course 
on  earth  had  been  assigned  to  him,  what  high  calling  he 
was  appointed  to  fulfil  here  in  the  short  space  of  the  last 
thirteen  eventful  years  of  his  life.  Observing  his  mental 
faculties,  which  unfolded  themselves  early  and  rapidly, 
many  may  haA^e  asked,  "  AYhat  v.'ill  become  of  this 
child  ?"  But  no  mortal  saw  in  him  the  man  chosen  of 
God  to  become  the  Eeformer  of  Switzerland,  through 
whom  God  permitted  the  light  of  His  Gospel  to  shine  in 
new  splendor  on  the  Church  of  Europe,  darkened  and 
disfigured  by  all  sorts  of  errors — the  man  who  brought 
to  pass,  through  the  Reformation  which  he  established, 
an  inexhaustible  source  of  blessing  to  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  If  his  parents,  in  the  pressure  of  their  delight, 
could  have  seen  him,  in  imagination,  standing  as  priest 
beside  his  two  uncles  and  reading  mass — ^they  would  have 
failed  to  see  in  him  the  protector  which,  from  the  thirty- 
second  year  onward,  he  became  to  his  Fatherland,  in  the 
storms  which  agitated  both  State  and  Church.  Of  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  of  whom  he  had  seven,  besides 
Anna  and  her  sister,  history  relates  nothing  of  special  in- 
terest. Of  him,  on  the  contrary,  many  volumes  were  to 
be  written. 

As  ZAvingli  advanced  in  years  he  distinguished  himself 
above  all  the  other  children  of  the  village  by  his  mental 
powers.  During  the  long  winter  evenings,  when  the 
bailiff  related  annals  of  Confederate  history  to  those  who 
had  come  from  the  village  to  spend  an  hour  with  him,  or 
to  his  own  family,  and  the  young  Ulric  heard  how  the 
Helvetians  gained  renown  by  their  successful  struggles 
for  liberty  in  1315,  1339,  1386,  1388,  1444,  and  twice  in 
1476,  it  WÜB  observed  how  such  narratives  fell  into  his 


ZWIN'GLl'S   BOYHOOD — HIS   FIKST   FIFTEEN"    TEARS.     25 

inmost  soul  like  glowing  sparks.  These  impressions,  as 
liis  later  life  showed,  were  never  erased,  but  aided  mate- 
rially to  make  liim,  as  no  other  man  of  his  time,  a  'tnan 
who  equally  cTierished  both  Church  and  State  roith  wann 
and  cordial  love.  It  was  his  habit  to  sit  silent,  earnest 
and  entirely  absorbed  in  thought  at  the  feet  of  his 
father,  or  of  one  of  the  elders  of  the  Church,  or  of  his 
pious  grandmother,  as  during  the  long  evenings  and  by 
the  light  of  feebly-burning  tallow  candles  they  told  of 
St.  Lucius,  the  lirst  missionary,  who  brought  the  Gospel 
to  Tlhffitia — how  he  had  lived  in  a  rocky  cavern  above 
Chur,  and  proclaimed  the  message  of  salvation  and 
brought  many  souls  to  the  Lord  J  esus  Christ  ;  or  when 
tliey  told  of  Beatus'  cave  on  the  shore  of  lake  Thun  ;  or 
of  Ursus  and  Yictor,  missionaries  to  Solothurn  ;  or  of 
Felix  and  Regula,  who  brought  the  Word  of  the  Cross  to 
Zürich  and  vicinity  ;  or  how  St.  Gallus,  after  founding 
St.  Gallen,  had  come  to  Grabs  to  visit  Deacon  John,  and 
had  stayed  with  him  six  days  ;  how  afterward  Fridolin 
and  Pirmin,  in  union  with  other  heroes  of  the  faith,  had 
transformed  the  whole  region  of  Ehaetia  and  Helvetia 
from  a  natural  and  spiritual  wilderness  to  a  fruitful  land, 
full  of  meadows  and  pastures— a  delightful  garden  of 
God  ;  and  how  in  this  way  the  valley  of  Toggenburg  and 
the  other  parts  of  Switzerland  had  become  a  dis- 
tinguished country.  As,  at  such  hours  of  devotion  at 
home,  the  father  and  grandmother  found  in  him  a  most 
zealous  listener,  so  in  the  temple  of  nature  none  listened 
as  earnestly  as  he  to  the  voices  of  the  magnificent  moun- 
tains. "1  have  often  thought,"  says  Myconius,  "that 
being  brought  near  to  heaven  on  these  sublime  heights, 
he  contracted  a  something  heavenly  and  divine." 
Tending  his  father's  cattle,  withdrawn  from  the  tumult 
of  "Wildhaus  life,  high  up  on  the  truly  glorious  mountain 


26  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

pastures,  surrounded  hj  flocks  of  sheep  and  lierds  of  cat- 
tle, and  moving  among  the  most  sublime  scenes  of  the 
Alpine  region,  the  young  lad  received  the  first  holy  im- 
pressions of  God's  greatness  and  majesty,  which  contrib- 
uted so  much  to  the  lofty  manhood  he  afterward  at- 
tained, and  which  inspired  him  from  his  youth  for  the 
great  conflict  which  he  undertook  against  the  imperfec- 
tions of  the  Church  and  State  of  his  Fatherland.  How 
early  his  thoughtful  mind  dwelt  in  rapture  on  the  works 
of  God  among  these  mountains  ;  how  greatly  he,  even  as 
a  boy,  devoted  himself  to  the  contemplation  of  the 
divine  government,  is  evident  from  his  work  on  the  Prov- 
idence of  God,  in  which  in  maturer  years  he  so  vigor- 
ously described  the  life  and  habits  of  mice,  hedgehogs, 
marmots,  and  squirrels  on  the  mountains,  and  pointed  to 
them  as  a  proof  of  the  providence  and  wisdom  of  God. 
He  treats  of  the  earth  too,  the  nurse  of  all,  the  dew,  the 
rain,  the  streams,  and  closes  with  a  consideration  of  the 
mountains.  His  composition,  celebrating  in  lofty  strains 
the  power  and  majesty  of  God,  will  always  show  how 
greatly  this  boy  was  filled,  by  the  heights  around  him, 
with  a  sense  of  God's  glory.  He  was  at  the  same  time 
characterized  by  an  unusually  tender  conscience,  which 
filled  him  with  a  horror  of  all  dishonesty  and  lying,  and 
with  a  deep  love  of  truth.  "When  eight  years  of  age  he 
once  said  that  he  had  considered  whether  Ipng  did  not 
deserve  greater  punishment  than  theft,  for  truth  is  the 
mother  of  all  virtues.  From  such  expressions  his  father 
readily  inferred  that  it  would  be  doing  injustice  to  little 
ITlric  to  confine  liim  to  a  shepherd's  life.  He  rejoiced 
greatly  in  this  happy  tendency  of  his  son's  mind.  His 
parents  believed  that  Ulrie  was  destined  for  something 
better  than  the  watching  of  cattle  on  the  hills,  and  re- 
solved that  he  should  study  for  the  ministry. 


ZWINGLI'S    BOYHOOD — HIS    PIRST    FIFTEEN    YEARS.     27 

One  day,  accordingly,  liis  father  took  the  eight-year- 
old  boy  to  Wesen,  to  place  him  in  care  of  Bartholomew, 
the  bailiff's  brother,  and  a  pastor  in  the  place.  Dean 
Bartholomew  Zwingli  was  requested  to  examine  his 
yomig  nephew  as  to  his  qualifications,  and,  if  possible,  to 
take  him  under  his  care  and  instruction  for  two  years. 
'No  one  can  divine  the  thoughts  that  flashed  through  the 
mind  of  this  enthusiastic  boy,  as  by  his  father's  side  he 
walked  over  the  shining  green  heights  of  the  Ammon, 
and  passed  the  immovable  rocks  which  so  boldly  jutted 
out  from  the  shore  into  Lake  Wallen.  He  had  never 
before  seen  so  much  of  the  mountains.  The  road,  too, 
led  him  across  one  of  the  peaks  from  which  he  could  sur- 
vey at  one  glance  the  entire  country  which  should 
become  the  scene  of  his  future  labors — the  valley  of 
Glarus,  the  heights  of  Mt,  Etzel,  behind  which  is  situ- 
ated Einsiedeln  and  the  smiling,  stately  shores  of  Lake 
Zürich.  These  are  the  three  places  in  which  his  struggle 
for  the  rights  of  the  people,  for  the  truth  of  the  Gospel, 
and  for  the  justification  of  the  sinner  by  faith  without 
the  works  of  the  Law,  was  afterward  so  manfully  deter- 
mined upon,  and  so  cautiously  and  systematically  begun 
and  continued,  ending  only  with  his  death.  And  all  this 
without  the  least  precipitation,  as  he  was  accustomed  to 
expect  everything  from  the  gradual  enlightenment  of 
ideas  which  must  necessarily  result  from  instruction  con- 
stantly imparted. 

However  learned  Dean  Zwingli  of  Wesen  might  have 
been,  his  attainments  were  not  suifficient  to  satisfy  the 
increasing  thirst  for  knowledge  of  the  zealous  little 
TJlric,  his  nephew,  for  more  than  two  years.  The  kind- 
hearted  uncle  therefore  sent  him  at  once  to  tlie  St.  Theo- 
dore school  at  Basel,  under  the  care  of  George  Binzli,  a 
thorough  scholar,  a  kind,  tender-hearted  man,  where  he 


28  THE    LlFli    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI.      . 

made  rapid  progress  in  tlie  study  of  the  Greek  and  Latin 
languages. 

lie  was  now,  a.d.  1494,  ten  rears  old.  Here  at  Basel, 
too,  liis  attainments  so  rapidly  increased  that  in  the  de- 
bates -which  had  for  many  years  been  conducted  in  the 
schools  of  Basel,  he  invariably  gained  the  victory.  This 
incurred  the  dislike  of  the  older  boys.  In  music,  to 
which  he  was  also  enthusiastically  devoted,  he  advanced 
far  beyond  what  is  common  in  boys  of  his  age.  When 
Binzli,  his  faithful  teacher,  who  cordially  loved  him,  saw 
that  his  school  was  no  longer  well  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  his  talented  scholar,  he  sent  him  home,  and  advised 
his  father  to  send  him  to  a  higher  educational  institu- 
tion. At  the  close  of  three  years'  course  in  Basel,  a.d. 
1497,  when  thirteen  years  old,  he  w^ent  to  Berne,  where 
Henry  Wölflin,  or  Lupulus,  a  good  Latin  scholar,  poet, 
and  historian  of  his  native  land,  had  oj)ened  a  classical 
school  of  high  rank,  in  which  he  taught  his  numerous 
pupils  the  works  of  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans. 
Here  the  boy,  studjang  two  years  with  the  same  success 
which  characterized  his  stay  at  Basel,  was  introduced 
into  the  sanctuary  of  the  Latin  classics,  by  which  he 
gained  keenness  of  judgment,  increased  knowledge,  and 
a  good  style  of  composition.  He  acquired  the  laws  of 
poetry  so  thoroughly  that  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was 
able  to  Avrite  poems  and  to  criticise  those  of  other  authors. 
He  also  actively  exercised  himself  in  music,  learned 
the  use  of  many  instruments,  and  frequently  accompa- 
nied his  own  voice  in  song,  in  which  he  was  as  well  versed 
as  in  playing  on  the  lute.  The  Dominican  monks, 
therefore,  were  at  great  pains  to  attract  the  boy,  and  to 
induce  him  to  join  their  order.  But  he  could  not  make 
up  his  mind  to  enter  a  monastery  ;  his  father  and  uncle 
also  were  opposed  to  it.     To  withdraw  him  from  the  in- 


ZVVINGLI'S   BOYHOOD — HIS^FIRST    FIFTEEN    YEARS.     39 

fiiience  of  tlie  monks,  his  father  desired  him  to  return 
home  without  delay.  By  this  recall,  ITlric,  now  fifteen 
years  old,  escaped  the  very  dangerous  snare  of  the 
monks.  The  eye  of  God  had  evidently  watched  over 
his  life.  The  years  were  approaching  in  which  he  should 
emerge  from  the  privacy  of  student  life  into  publicity. 


CHAPTER  lY. 

ZWIXGLI    AT   THE    U^'ITEESITIES    OF    VIENNA   AND   BASEL. 

ZwiNGLi,  having  studied  the  languages  sufficiently, 
was  now  to  devote  himself  to  philosophy.  His  father 
sent  him  under  the  name  of  Cogentius  to  the  famous 
University  of  Yienna.  Here  the  works  of  the  Greeks 
and  Romans  were  in  high  repute,  and  the  professors 
knew  how  to  familiarize  their  pupils  with  the  beauties  of 
these  heathen  compositions  and  to  inspire  with  zeal  in 
their  behalf.  Here  a  warm  friendship  soon  sjDrang  up 
between  him  and  two  fellow-students  (upon  whom 
Maximilian  I.  afterward  conferred  the  poet's  crown), 
countrymen  of  Joachim  of  AYatt,  called  Yadianus,  after- 
ward mayor  of  St.  Gall,  and  Henry  Loritti,  called  Gla- 
reanus,  of  Mollis,  Canton  Glanis,  who  like  Yadian 
became  a  devoted  friend  of  the  Reformation.  He  also 
formed  friendship  with  the  brothers  Conrad  and  Leo- 
pold Grebel  of  Zürich,  and  became  acquainted  with  the 
Swabians,  Faber  and  Eck.  In  social  intercourse  with 
these  four  Confederates  the  two  years  at  Yienna  passed 
like  so  many  days,  and  his  efforts  in  all  branches  of  study 
were  crowned  with  the  most  satisfactory  results.  Bnt 
he  did  not  by  any  means  allow  the  clear,  sound  views  he 
had  already  acquired,  to  be  dimmed  by  the  study  of 
heathen  authors.  He  was  often  heard  to  complain  to  his 
friends  that  so  many  persons  studied  heathen  poets 
rather  than  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  His  apostle  Paul  ! 

He  was  now  called  home  to  Wildhaus,  but  was  soon 


AT   THE    UNIVEUSITIES    OF    VIENNA    AND    BASEL.        31 

convinced  that  tlie  sliepherd's  every-day  life  no  longer 
suited  him,  and  therefore — not  to  be  absent  from  his 
books  too  long — he  returned  to  Basel  in  the  year  1501. 
Though  now  only  seventeen  years  old,  he  was  clearly 
conscious  of  the  fact  that  heathen  wisdom  could  give  to 
man  nothing  to  help  his  immortal  soul  by  leading,  en- 
couraging, strengthening,  and  comforting  it  in  its  efforts 
and  strivings  after  truth,  light,  rest,  and  peace,  in  order 
that  it  might  attain  a  blessed  consummation  after  the 
countless  troubles  and  toils  of  the  present  life.  And  he 
was  conscious  also  that  the  Christian  Church,  in  its  then 
prevailing  Koman  character,  had  widely  departed  from 
its  peculiar  calling,  and  was  no  longer  able  to  accom- 
plish what  it  had  accomplished  for  the  salvation  of  men 
in  the  first  few  centuries  after  Christ.  In  this  glorious 
knowledge  and  solemn  experience,  the  youth  Zwingli 
was  destined  to  be  led  an  important  and  very  decisive 
step  farther.  In  spite  of  his  youth,  he  was,  imme- 
diately after  his  arrival  at  Basel,  appointed  teacher  in 
the  Latin  school  of  St.  Martin. 

With  uncommon  industry  he  instructed  his  pupils  in 
Greek  and  Latin,  prosecuting  meanwhile  the  study  of 
philosophy,  and  thus  enjoying  the  opportunity  of  be- 
comino;  the  vig-orous-minded  man  who  soon  rose  above 
the  mists  of  his  age  and  shone  as  a  star  of  the  first  mag- 
nitude among  the  Reformers.  With  rare  skill,  and  sup- 
ported by  a  happy  humor  and  social  talents,  he  combined 
his  early  studies  with  cheering  jjleasantry  and  musical 
recreation  on  the  lute,  harp,  violin,  flute,  timbrel,  clar- 
ionet and  the  hunter's  horn  —  instruments  which  the 
lively,  hajDpy  youth  played  with  remarkable  skill.  Such 
invigorating  recreations  for  body  and  mind  he  also  re- 
commended to  his  students.  He  often  made  his  room 
and  the  houses  of  his  friends  echo  with  the  airs  and  joy- 


32  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIIS'GLI. 

fill  Alpine  melodies  of  his  beloved  country.  He  found 
a  faithful  friend  in  Leo  Judca,  who  shared  with  him, 
above  all  other  friends,  his  love  of  the  sciences  and  of 
mnsic. 

Meanwhile  the  fame  of  this  young  man's  learning  in- 
creased to  such  an  extent  that  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
the  Liberal  Sciences  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
University,  Ilis  noble  character  at  this  early  age  of  less 
than  twenty-two  years  is  shown  by  the  manner  in  which 
he  accepted  the  title,  bestowed  on  him  as  a  valuable, 
merited  testimonial  to  his  learning.  Yielding  to  the  ear- 
nest entreaties  of  his  friends  and  the  jDrejudices  of  his 
time,  he  accepted  the  title  of  Master  of  Arts,  but  never 
used  it,  always  saying  :  "  One  is  our  Master,  Jesus 
Christ." 

Thoroughly  prepared  by  philology  and  philosophy, 
he  now  devoted  himself,  according  to  his  own  peculiar 
design,  to  the  study  of  scholastic  theology.  But  he  soon 
felt  convinced  that  the  time  devoted  to  this  confused 
study  was  lost,  and  that  no  benefit  was  to  be  derived 
from  it  for  the  sound  doctrine  of  the  Gospel.  He  never- 
theless continued  its  study  in  order  to  make  himself  ac- 
quainted with  the  errors  of  this  doctrinal  system.  It 
was  a  very  fortunate  occurrence  for  his  further  culture, 
that,  in  the  midst  of  his  labors  here,  Thomas  Wytten- 
bach,  a  famous  scholar,  became  his  teacher.  This  pious 
man  taught  openly  and  boldly  that  j)'^^i'gatory,  the  mass, 
priestly  rule,  and  the  invocation  of  saints  were  in  direct 
conflict  Avith  the  Word  of  God  ;  that  the  time  was  not 
far  distant  when  scholastic  theology  would  be  abolished, 
and  the  ancient  doctrine  of  the  Church  be  i*estored  on 
the  foundation  of  the  Bible  ;  that  absolution  was  a 
Romish  fraud,  and  the  death  of  Christ  the  only  satisfac- 
tion for  our  sins. 


AT   THE    UNIVERSITIES    OF   VIENNA    AND    BASEL.       33 

The  doctrine  taught  by  Wyttenbach  was  just  what 
the  youthful  Dr.  Uh'ic  Zwingli  had  been  seeking  for. 
His  heart  had  been  prepared  for  its  reception.  Neither 
the  dignity  of  his  doctorate  nor  his  learning  sufficed  to 
calm  his  restless  heart.  It  longed  for  that  peace  which 
the  world  cannot  give,  which  was  neither  to  be  sought 
nor  found  in  Rome,  which  surpasseth  the  wisdom  of  the 
wise,  and  which  the  God  of  peace  and  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  only  can  put  into  the  hearts,  according  to  His 
Word  :  "  Peace  I  leave  with  you  ;  my  peace  I  give  unto 
you  :  not  as  the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you.  Let  not 
your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid."  His 
heart  longed  for  the  assurance  of  the  forgiveness  of  sins 
— and  found  it. 

Amcmg  the  students  who  sat  at  the  feet  of  Wytten- 
bach was  tlie  equally  mild  and  fearless  youth  from 
Alsace,  whose  name  -Leo  Juda — ^is  already  known  to  us. 
A  communion  of  spirit  soon  manifested  itself  between 
him  and  the  youthful  3f agister  Zwingli.  Many  precious 
hours  they  passed  together  in  singing  and  playing  on 
their  instruments — Leo  Juda  singing  with  his  fine  treble 
voice  and  beating  his  drum,  while  Dr.  Ulric  Zwingli, 
with  ready  skill,  accompanied  him  upon  some  one  of  his 
own  instruments.  At  such  times  these  two  friends  little 
thought  that  they  were  destined  by  Divine  Providence 
to  one  and  the  same  conflict — the  same  work  of  Refor- 
mation. They  were  separated  for  twelve  years  only  to 
be  again  brought  together  afterward,  when,  in  addition 
to  their  otherwise  onerous  official  labors,  they  translated 
the  Holy  Scriptures  from  the  original  Hel)rew  text  into 
Swiss  German,  producing  the  famous  Zürich  version  of 
the  Bible.  It  has  since  undergone  but  very  slight  revi- 
sion, little  more  than  to  render  the  then  prevalent 
Swiss  dialect  into  Scripture  German.     It  is  to  this  day 


3-4  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

regarded  as  one  of  tlie  most  excellent  translations  of  the 
Bible,  and  has  had  a  very  extensive  circulation  in 
America.  The  complete  translation  was  in  the  hands  of 
the  people  in  1530. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

FROM   BASEL    TO    GLAETJS. 

The  youthful  Master  of  Arts  had  now  finished  his 
studies  in  Basel.  The  goal  which  he  had  so  long  desired 
to  reach  heckoned  him  onward.  Sustained  by  the  con- 
fession :  "  I  confess  indeed  that  I  am  a  great  sinner 
before  God,  but  I  am  free  from  crime,  so  that  no  hnman 
being  has  ever  found  it  necessary  to  call  me  to  account 
for  any  sin  ;"  and  grateful  for  God's  guidance  hitherto  : 
' '  From  my  boyhood  the  Lord  has  always  kindly  helped 
me  in  the  investigation  of  human  and  divine  things" — • 
he  could  look  to  the  future  without  fear  or  the  least 
wavering.  The  treasure  of  knowledge  which  he  had 
been  uninterru])tedly  gathering  during  fourteen  years 
from  the  writings  of  Greeks  and  Romans,  but  especially 
the  doctrine  taught  by  "Wyttenbach  of  salvation  on  the 
foundation  of  the  apostles  and  projshets,  Jesus  Christ 
Himself  being  the  chief  Corner  Stone,  had  cultivated  in 
him  such  an  independent  manhood  that,  in  his  twenty- 
second  year,  he  was  already  willing  and  ready  to  live  and 
die  for  the  common  welfare  of  the  Church  and  State  of 
his  Fatherland.  Providence  beckoned  him.  Before  his 
consecration  to  the  priesthood,  almost  before  the  com- 
pletion of  his  studies,  he  received  (by  whose  suggestion 
is  not  known  ;  perhaps  through  the  recommendation  of 
Glareanus),  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  Glarus.  The 
charge  was  vacant.  Henry  Goeldli,  the  Pope's  groom, 
who  already  possessed  the  revenue  of  a  parisli,  appeared 


36  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINQLI. 

with  a  parchment  in  his  hand,  liaving  been  sent  by  tlie 
Pope,  and  claimed  to  be  the  duly  appointed  incumbent 
of  the  vacant  charge.  In  a  trice  the  Glaroans  remem- 
bered the  struggles  for  freedom  by  which  they  had 
achieved  their  liberty,  and  turned  the  papal  hanger-on 
back  to  Zürich,  whence  he  had  come.  As  the  groom 
could  not  possibly  serve  the  congregation,  it  was  at  once 
evident  to  the  city  church  of  Glarus  that  the  only  object 
of  Henry  Goeldli  was  money.  To  preserve  the  public 
peace,  therefore,  the  kind-hearted  Glareans  gave  him  a 
purse  of  gold  and  silver  coin,  and  thus  hastened  his  de- 
parture. 

The  honorable  call  to  the  youth  of  Wildhaus,  and  es- 
pecially the  fact  that  he  had  risen  to  the  dignity  of  Doc- 
tor of  Philosophy,  had  long  since  been  heralded  as  far  as 
the  Glarean  Alps.  Pride  in  their  ancient  jsastoral  race 
blazed  up  anew  in  the  hearts  of  the  Glareans.  They 
were  determined  to  have  the  young  Doctor  of  the  Arts 
and  Sciences  as  their  priest,  and  they  elected  and  for- 
mally called  him  in  the  year  1506.  Dr.  Ulric  Zwingli, 
Pastor  of  Glarus,  was  ordained  priest  in  Constance,  de- 
livered his  first  sermon,  on  his  return,  in  Rapperschwyl, 
on  the  shore  of  Lake  Zurich,  and  soon  thereafter  read 
mass  for  the  first  time  in  Wildhaus,  his  birthplace,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  pastorate  in  Glarus 
toward  the  close  of  the  year. 

There,  during  an  active  life  of  ten  years,  he  showed, 
without  fear  or  favor  to  high  and  low,  that  forms  may 
and  do  change,  but  that  truth  and  justice  are  always  the 
same,  and  that  the  whole  of  Switzerland  should  remain 
true  to  their  ancient  destiny — namely^  the  defence  of  the 
liberty  achieved  by  the  fathers  against  clerical  and  secu- 
lar enemies.  In  him  was  clearly  manifest  the  great 
friend  and  dehverer  of  the  Church  and  the  Fatherland. 


FROM    BASEL   TO    QLARÜS.  37 

The  reconstruction  of  the  Chnrcli  in  doctrine  and  cultus 
began  while  he,  assured  that  the  minister  to  be  useful 
in  his  office  ought  himself  to  know  much,  applied  himself 
with  new  zeal  to  his  studies.  He  read  the  ancient 
classics,  especially  the  historians.  Among  the  Greeks 
he  preferred  Lucian. 

The  attainment  of  two  things  especially  concerned 
him  :  a  complete  knowledge  of  Scripture  doctrine,  and 
the  art  of  making  his  sermons  understood  by  all.  He 
succeeded  in  both  these  things  in  a  remarkable  degree. 
Learned  and  scientifically  qualified  men  considered  him 
a  finished  expounder  of  the  Word  of  God.*  With  ever- 
increasing  zeal  he  endeavored  to  master  tlie  original  lan- 
guages. With  liis  own  hand  he  transcribed  the  Epistles 
of  St.  Paul,  and  read  them  so  industriously  that  he  knew 
them  literally  by  heart.  He  afterward  familiarized  him- 
self in  the  same  way  with  the  other  books  of  the  ISTew 
Testament.  Meanwhile  he  continued  to  make  less  and 
less  account  of  commentators,  and  more  and  more  of  the 
Scriptures  themselves.  He  found  that  the  Church 
Fathers  were  often  led  by  the  philosophical  systems, 
which,  from  regard  for  the  authors,  had  gained  equal 
authority  in  the  Church  with  the  Bible  itself.  Not  to 
fall  into  the  same  mistake,  he  compared  passages  with 
each  other,  endeavoring  to  determine  the  meaning  of 
those  that  were  dark  and  difficult  by  those  that  were  easy 
and  clear. 

He  soon  perceived  that  Christian  doctrine  could  not 
gain  entrance  as  long  as  the  fountains  of  moral  disorder 
were  not  checked.  He  earnestly  attacked  in  his  sermons 
the  prevailing  vices,  especially  the  annual  pensions 
which   foreign   princes   paid   to    prominent   citizens  to 

*  "Zwingli,  the  son  of  an  humble  peasant,  but  a  profound  and  ele- 
gant scholar." — Brownson's  (Roman  Catholic)  Beview,  1856. — L. 


38  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZTTINGLI. 

secure  tlieir  favor  for  the  enlistment  of  troops  for  tlie 
foreign  military  service.  His  sermons  against  the  prev- 
alent vices,  the  pensions,  and  the  mania  for  going  to 
foreign  wars,  from  the  abolition  of  which  he  expected 
the  restoratiun  of  the  former  prosperity  of  the  Swiss, 
raised  up  against  him,  even  in  Glarus,  some  powerful 
enemies  among  the  opposers  of  enlightenment.  But 
Avhen  the  hum  of  these  bumblebees  reached  his  ears, 
he  comforted  himseK  with  the  cordial  friendship  of  all 
right-thinking  persons,  among  whom  Avere  often  the 
elderly  men  and  those  among  the  priests  distinguished 
by  irrej^roachable  character.  These  respected  and  loved 
the  zealous  preacher  of  morals  on  this  very  account,  and 
hoped  from  him  the  restoration  of  the  23rosj)erous  times 
of  primitive  innocence  and  simplicity  of  manners. 
"  Let  us  believe  and  obey  what  is  revealed  to  us  in  the 
Word  of  God.  "Whatsoever  is  not  found  in  it  must  be 
regarded  as  superfluous  ;  and  whatsoever  is  against  it,  as 
erroneous  and  untrue."  This  was  the  law  of  his  preach- 
ing and  of  his  other  official  acts.  Here  in  Glarus  he  was 
already  a  truly  evangelical  preacher,  but  not  as  yet 
openly  a  Reformer  of  the  Church.  He  proclaimed  the 
doctrine  of  the  Gospel  pungently  and  plainly.  The  er- 
rors that  had  crept  in  he  very  briefly  confuted,  or 
passed  by  unnoticed,  maintaining  that  the  truth,  when 
once  perceived  and  understood,  had  power  sufficient  to 
beat  down  all  errors.  Under  the  circumstances,  in  the 
prevailing  corruption  of  the  entire  Church,  the  only  safe 
measure  seemed  to  be  to  raise  up  the  truth.  Had  he 
levelled  his  attack  against  the  reigning  errors  and  abuses, 
before  the  time  had  fully  come  for  it,  more  harm  than 
good  would  have  resulted. 

Zwinffli  learned  to  know  Komish  affairs  still  more  in- 
timately  from  his  personal  intercourse  and  correspond- 


FROM    BASEL  TO    GLARUS.  39 

ence  with  the  leading  princes  of  the  Church,  especially 
Cardinal  Schinner,  bishop  in  Wallis  (Yallais).  This 
official  observed  the  great  influence  which  Zwingli  was 
visibly  gaining,  and  as  he  constantly  endeavored  by  gold 
and  other  means  to  win  the  Swiss  over  to  the  Pope  as 
food  for  hostile  cannon  in  his  unrighteous  campaigns 
against  the  King  of  France  and  other  princes,  it  vv'as  of 
vast  account  to  him  to  win  Zwingli  also.  lie  offered 
him  therefore  an  annual  pension  of  fifty  florins  to  aid 
him  in  purchasing  the  books  necessary  for  his  studies, 
which  were  then  so  dear  that  Zwingli,  being  poor,  could 
not  have  bought  them  without  this  aid.  Zwingli  be- 
lieved that  the  Cardinal  had  no  dishonest  motive  in  the 
bestowment  of  this  pension,  and  therefore  directed  the 
bishop's  attention  to  existing  abuses,  and  hopefuliy 
believed  that  the  Roman  See  felt  sincerely  inclined  to 
abolish  them.  But  soon  the  Court  at  Home  sent  him 
earnest  admonitions,  not  by  any  means  to  preach  against 
the  Roman  Church,  but  to  confide  implicitly  in  the 
Pope.  Zwingli  now  became  painfully  conscious  that 
the  pension,  ostensibly  conferred  upon  him  to  aid  him  in 
liis  studies,  was  really  designed  to  make  him  also  subser- 
vient to  the  Pope.  Boldly  he  declared  that  no  money 
could  induce  him  to  depart  a  hair's  breadth  from  the 
known  truth,  because  he  well  knew  that  the  blood  of  the 
lambs,  perishing  through  any  fault  of  his,  would  be  re- 
quired at  his  hands. 

At  this  time  the  duties  of  his  office  called  him  far 
beyond  the  boundaries  of  his  parish  into  the  wild  throng 
of  the  camp  and  to  the  battle-field.  In  1512  and  1513, 
when  20,000  Confederates  in  the  pay  of  Pope  Julius  II. 
marched  to  Italy,  it  was  the  duty  of  the  young  pastor  of 
Glarus,  according  to  the  primitive  custom  of  the  Swiss, 
to  accompany  the  troops  of  the  Canton  twice  to  the 


40  THE    LIFE    OF   ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

field,  in  tlie  capacity  of  cliaplain.  The  Pope's  cam- 
paign was  against  Louis  XII.  of  France.  Two  years 
later  Zwingli  was  present  at  tlie  bloody  battle  of  Marig- 
nano,  to  Avliicli  tlie  Swiss,  in  spite  of  his  protest,  had  al- 
lowed themselves  to  be  incited  by  Cardinal  Schinner, 
In  a  two-days'  battle  with  the  French,  September  13tli 
and  14th,  1515,  the  Confederates  lost  several  thousand 
men.*  Zwingli  had  penetrated  the  cunning  knavery  of 
the  Cardinal,  and  had  seen  that  the  Pope  was  less  con- 
cerned for  the  salvation  of  souls  than  for  earthly  power 
and  aggrandizement,  for  the  attainment  of  which  he 
allowed,  without  any  scruples  of  conscience,  the  blood 
of  his  friends  as  well  as  of  foes  to  be  freely  shed  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

The  Italian  campaigns,  which  brought  Zwingli  re- 
luctantly to  Milan,  were,  in  other  respects,  of  great  im- 
portance to  him.  He  had  previously  been  convinced 
by  old  hturgies  that  the  manner  in  which  things  were 
done  in  ancient  times  differed  from  the  present  ;  that 
then,  for  instance,  the  Holy  Communion  was  adminis- 
tered in  both  kinds.  In  Milan  he  soon  saw  that  the  cus- 
tomary form  for  the  celebration  of  mass  was  very  diifer- 
ent  from  that  used  by  Pope  Gregory  ;  and  that  formerly 
individual  churches,  like  that  of  Milan  under  Ambrose, 
had  maintained  great  freedom  in  opposition  to  the  Pope. 

These  observations,  in  connection  with  his  inner  long- 
ings after  consolation  and  truth,  urged  his  mind  more 
and  more  to  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  painfully  experi- 
enced that  "  Out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,'' 
against  which  one's  own  will  is  wholly  powerless. 
Though  he  could  comfort  himself  with  the  forgiveness 
of  his  sins  and  imperfections,  his  mind  was  not  yet  fully 

*  More  than  5000,  says  Hottinger. — -L. 


FEOM    BASEL   TO    GLARUS.  41 

satisfied  ;  he  desired  not  only  forgiveness  of  sins,  but  to 
be  fully  cleansed.  About  this  time  he  saw  a  composi- 
tion by  Erasmus,  in  which  Jesus  laments  that  men  do 
not  seek  all  good  things  in  Him,  who  is  the  only  Fountain 
of  all  good,  yea  the  only  comfort,  defence,  and  Saviour 
of  souls.  This  complaint  from  Jesus  touched  Zwingli 
deeply,  and  he  resolved  to  lay  aside  all  other  writings  of 
Erasmus  in  honor  of  the  saints,  and  to  seek  all  good  in 
Jesus  alone,  his  only  Mediator. 

These  observations  and  experiences  doubtless  had  great 
effect  in  causing  Zwingli's  liberty-loving  heart  to  rebel 
against  the  leaders  of  the  inoffensive  people,  Avhose 
greedy  poverty  was  so  incessantly  allured  by  the  prom- 
ises of  the  rich  that  they  allowed  themselves  to  be  bar- 
tered away  by  thousands  like  cattle  for  the  slaughter. 
They  also  induced  him  more  determinedly  to  wage  the 
war  that  presented  itself  to  his  inmost  soul — not  to  turn 
aside,  but  to  take  a  decided  stand  for  the  Reformation  in 
Switzerland,  Germany,  and  France,  which  he  so  glori- 
ously helped  to  accomplish. 

The  commendable  zeal  with  which  he  interested  him- 
self on  behaK  of  young  men  afforded  him  an  opportunity 
not  only  to  maintain  but  to  constantly  increase  the  love 
and  respect  of  the  people  of  Glarus.  Whenever  he  dis- 
covered peculiar  talents  in  young  men,  he  endeavored, 
by  fnendly  advances,  by  instruction  and  example,  to 
lead  them  to  become  lovers  of  the  sciences  and  friends 
of  their  Fatherland.  Of  his  success,  and  the  affection 
with  which  his  friends  and  pupils  clung  to  him,  there 
are  to  this  day  many  touching  evidences  in  the  archives 
of  the  Church  at  Zürich.  Louis  and  Peter  Tschudi, 
their  brother  JEgidius,  the  excellent  historian,  Valen- 
tine, their  nephew,  who  succeeded  Zwingli  in  the  pas- 
torate of  Glarus  ;  Jacob  Heer,  Fridolin  and  Philip  Bran- 


43  T]IE    LIFE    OF    ULIUC    ZWIXGLI. 

nei,  Francis  Cerviiras,  ^Nicholas  Baling,  and  a  certain 
Taureolus,  belong  to  the  known  friends  of  Zwingli,  wlio 
in  later  years  and  from  foreign  lands  manifested  tlieir 
love  to  him  by  word  and  deed. 

The  position  of  this  bold  preacher  of  the  Truth,  with 
his  patriotic  heart  and  honest  purpose,  began  to  become 
critical.  He  was  moreover  not  to  remain  more  than  ten 
years  in  Glarus.  Einsiedeln  and  Zürich  'were  waiting  for 
him.  Besides,  no  one  would  have  supposed  that  after 
only  fifteen  years  this  great  man  of  the  Church  and  the 
Fatherland  would  no  longer  be  among  the  living.  A 
powerful  party  insisted  on  a  Swiss  alliance  with  France. 
Zwingli  cautioned  his  country  against  it.  The  Pope's 
party  also  sought  adherents.  In  vain  Zwingli  called 
upon,  admonished,  and  entreated  his  Glareans  not  to  en- 
gage in  foreign  alliances.  He  could  no  longer  contain 
himself.  His  oj^pressive  grief  embittered  all  his  minis- 
trations. He  would  fain  leave  Glarus.  The  Lord  too 
had  so  ordered  it,  that  His  champion  might  come  nearer 
the  battle-field  on  which  He  designed  to  place  him.  A 
new  charge  beckoned  him  away.  The  Lord  called  His 
champion,  and  he  followed. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

FKOM    GLARUS    TO    EINSIEDELN. 

Ten  years  passed  by.  While  Zwingli's  enemies  in 
Glarus  intended  to  do  liira  harm,  God  employed  friends 
to  open  a  refuge  in  which  he  might  rest  from  the  fierce 
assaults  of  those  who  opposed  him  in  Glarus.  Dr.  Die- 
bold  of  Gerodseek,  jDrior  of  the  monastery  and  a  lover 
of  the  sciences,  offered  him  the  subordinate  living  of 
the  princely  foundation  at  Einsiedeln  (Canton  Schwyz). 
Zwingli  accepted  the  appointment  with  joy,  and  entered 
into  a  written  contract  with  the  prior  at  Pfseffikon,  on 
Lake  Zürich,  April  l-iih,  1516,  in  reference  to  the 
duties  and  salary  of  his  new  office,  while  he  declined  the 
call  of  the  Council  of  "Winterthur  to  a  cliarge  there. 
The  calling  of  Zwingli  to  the  monastery  at  Einsiedeln 
happened  doubtless  with  the  knowledge  and  consent  of 
the  abbot,  Conrad  of  Tlechberg,  a  pious,  upright  man, 
possessing  no  great  learning  indeed,  but  holding  firmly 
the  truth  as  far  as  he  understood  it.  Once,  when  his 
monastery  was  visited  by  his  superiors,  and  he  was  told 
that  he  was  suspected  of  undervaluing  the  mass,  he  inno- 
cently replied  :  "If  Christ  be  in  the  bread,  I,  a  poor 
monk,  am  not  worthy  to  behold  the  eternal  God,  much 
less  to  offer  Him.  If  Christ  be  not  therein,  woe  to  me 
if,  instead  of  God,  1  offer  bread,  and  let  the  people  wor- 
ship it."  His  prior,  Diebold  von  Geroldseck,  was  also 
a  pious  man,  a  Swabian,  who  delighted  in  gathering 
around  him   men   of  genius  and   piety,  and  appointing 


44  THE    LIFE    OF   ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

them  to  office  in  tlie  monastery.  He  invited  Zwingli  to 
come  to  Einsiedeln,  especially  as  the  papal  chaplain, 
Francis  Zink,  an  influential  man,  advised  this  step. 
Einsiedeln,  to  which  Zwingli  removed  in  the  summer  of 
1516,  was  the  last  station  in  the  course  of  instruction  by 
which  God  prepared  him  for  the  work  of  a  Reformer. 
The  causes  which  led  him  to  locate  at  Einsiedeln  were 
partly  the  intrigues  of  the  French  and  the  papal  J^arty, 
partly  the  design  and  hope  of  spreading  evangelical 
truth  more  rapidly  and  widely  in  this  most  celebrated 
place  of  pilgrimage  for  Southern  Germany,  and  to  over- 
throw superstition  in  this  its  stronghold.  That  the 
people  of  Glarus  regretted  his  departure  is  evident  from 
the  fact  that  his  salary  as  priest  of  Glarus  was  paid  to  him 
for  two  years,  in  the  hope  that  he  might  return.  The 
old  love  of  the  Glareans  to  their  pastor  appears  also  from 
a  letter,  written  by  him  a  year  after  he  entered  on  his 
pastorate  at  Einsiedeln,  and  directed  to  the  Council  of 
"Winterthur,  Canton  Zürich,  in  reference  to  the  charge 
offered  to  him  in  that  place,  in  which  he  says  he  could 
not  accept  their  call,  "as  it  might  displease  his  gracious 
lords  in  Glarus."  He  signed  his  name  as  priest  of 
Glarus  and  minister  at  Eiusiedeln. 

In  this  latter  place  Zwingli  soon  became  the  intellect- 
ual centre  of  a  circle  of  friends,  embracing  men  like 
Franz  Zink,  John  Oechslein,  Dr.  Michael  Sander,  and 
others,  who  gladly  pennitted  him  to  lead  them  to  a  still 
deeper  knowledge  of  the  Gospel.  But  while  leading 
others  into  the  truth,  he  himself  enjoyed  such  deep  inner 
experience  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  the  only  Sav- 
iour, that  he  could  no  longer  calmly  permit  its  open 
denial.  He  desired  not  only  to  direct  his  friends  in  the 
monastery  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  to  tell  them, 
*'  The  time  will  soon  be  at  hand,  when  neither  Jerome 


rftoir  GLARUS  to  einsiedelx.  45 

nor  any  other  but  the  Scriptures  will  have  nmcli  weight 
with  Christians  ;"  but  he  also  himself  felt  compelled  to 
preach  the  Word  of  God  purely  and  ])lainly  to  the  im- 
mense ]nultitudes  that  flocked  together  in  this  place  of 
pilgrimage. 

In  golden  letters  above  the  door  to  the  monastery 
stood  these  words  :  ^^ Hie  est  plena  remissio  omnium  joec- 
catorxtm  a  culpa  et  poena.'' '''^  This  inscription  was  the 
more  readily  believed  by  thousands,  as  a  number  of  the 
popes  had  promised  absolution  from  the  guilt  and  pun- 
ishment of  sin  to  all  who  here  invoked  the  image  of  the 
Virgin  Mary.  The  coarse  superstition  of  the  crowds 
streaming  from  Switzerland,  Alsace,  and  Southern  Ger- 
many soon  reported  miracle  after  miracle  performed  by 
this  image  of  Mary.  People  prayed  to  the  image,  and 
bestowed  upon  it  the  most  valuable  gifts.  The  monas- 
tery grew  richer  and  more  famons.  To  these  hosts  of 
pilgrims  it  was  Zwingli's  duty  to  preach.  It  was  always 
considered  a  special  duty  of  the  vicar  to  confirm  the 
people  by  his  sermons  in  their  faith  in  the  miraculous 
power  of  the  image  of  the  Virgin  and  the  reliability  of 
absolution.  Zwingli,  however,  did  not  preach  what  the 
superstitious  hosts  of  pilgrims  expected  to  hear,  but  he 
preached  "  the  one  thing  needful."  He  directed  the 
people  to  Jesus,  who  might  be  found  wherever  He  was 
sincerely  sought  ;  that  it  was  foolish  and  unchristian  to 
confine  the  grace  of  God  to  particular  localities  ;  that 
the  Pope  had  indeed  so  ordered  it,  as  the  Saviour  had 
foretold,  Matt.  24  :  2G— "  Wherefore  if  they  shall  say 
unto  you.  Behold  He  is  in  the  desert,  go  not  forth  ;  be- 
hold He  is  in  the  secret  chambers,  believe  it  not." 
Thus  the  Pope  had  done,  and  confined  Christ  and  His 

*  Here  is  full  absolution  from  the  guilt  antl  punishment  of  all 
sins.— L. 


4G  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

grace  to  Rome  and  other  places  of  pilgrimage.  He  "who 
attributes  full  power  to  man  to  forgive  sin,  slanders  God. 
He  also  showed  the  pilgrims  that  tlie  invocation  of  Mary 
■vras  offensive  to  the  Law  of  God  and  to  herself  also. 

Though  he  could  not  bring  about  a  peculiar  reforma- 
tion here,  as  he  afterward  did  in  Zürich,  he  was  never- 
theless the  Reformer  who  fearlessly  and  under  the  power 
of  a  divine  call  attacked  the  errors  of  the  Church  creed, 
as  he  invariably  did  during  the  great  festivals,  when  from 
near  and  far  thousands  assembled  in  the  abbey.  He  had 
now  entered  upon  the  thirty-thii'd  year  of  his  life,  en- 
riched by  the  experience  of  ten  years  in  Glarus,  and 
could  no  longer  be  shaken  in  the  position  he  so  boldly 
assumed,  that  "Christ  is  our  only  salvation."  On  the 
great  festival  of  the  Holy  iVngels,  a.d.  1517,  a  day  when 
the  abbey  was  usually  filled  to  overflowing,  he  boldly 
proclaimed  to  all  that  remission  of  sins  and  everlasting 
life  were  not  to  be  sought  of  the  holy  Virgin,  but  of 
Christ  ;  that  absolution,  2^ilgrimages,  and  vows,  and  the 
presents  made  to  the  saints,  have  no  value  ;  that  God's 
grace  and  help  are  everywhere  within  reach  ;  and  that 
He  hears  prayer  at  other  places  as  well  as  at  Einsiedeln  ; 
that  the  excessive  veneration  of  the  holy  Virgin  was  prej- 
udicial to  God's  glory  ;  that,  as  there  is  no  purgatory, 
the  masses  for  the  soul  are  useless  ;  that  the  merit  which 
some  thought  to  gain  by  assuming  monastic  vows  was 
pure  imagination  ;  that  not  Mary,  but  Christ,  is  our 
only  salvation. 

These  faithful  testimonies  of  the  bold,  youthful 
teacher  penetrated  the  cities  and  villages  of  Switzerland, 
down  into  Alsace,  over  into  Germany,  where  they  every- 
where prepared  the  hearts  of  those  who  heard  and  were 
moved  by  them,  for  the  work  of  the  German  Reforma- 
tion. 


FROM  GLÄEUS  TO  EIKSIEDELN'.  47 

The  results  of  the  hitherto  unheard-of  doctrines  which 
he  preached  at  Einsiedehi  soon  followed.  Hartman, 
the  historian,  states  that  these  evangelical  sermons  had 
effected  a  visible  diminution  of  pilgrimages,  and  that 
many  of  the  pilgrims  had  taken  home  with  them  the 
gifts  they  had  intended  to  bestow  on  the  Virgin.  Zwin- 
gli  quieted  the  prior,  who  had  become  somewhat  uneasy, 
by  saying :  "Once  for  all  we  must  determine  to  cling 
inseparably  to  right,  truth,  and  God,  though  with  the 
loss  of  property  and  life.  Once  for  all  we  must  vent- 
ure, and  expose  ourselves  to  the  danger  of  death  for  the 
truth,  and  to  confirm  the  mind  against  all  the  attacks  of 
the  flesh,  the  world,  and  the  devil."  These  words  j)er- 
fectly  calmed  the  aged  Geroldseck.  He  was  surprised 
at  the  magnanimity  of  Zwingli,  who  lost  more  than  he 
by  the  diminution  of  superstition,  for  Zwingli's  annual 
salary  was  only  eighty  florins,  besides  perquisites  derived 
from  altar  presents  and  masses  for  the  dead.  Thereafter 
he  allowed  the  youthful  but  inspired  pastor  to  proceed 
unhindered  in  his  labors.  The  image  of  Mary,  hitherto 
so  idolatrously  worshipped,  was  removed  and  buried. 
The  golden  inscription  concerning  absolution  was  also 
taken  away  from  the  door  of  the  abbey.  In  place  of 
Latin  hymns,  the  New  Testament  was  read  in  the  Ger- 
man language  ;  an  Order  of  Worsliip,  which  Zwingli, 
by  direction  of  the  prior,  had  already  in  1516  introduced 
in  the  abbey  Fahr,  which  belonged  to  Einsiedeln,  was 
adopted  and  used.  His  bold  festival  sermon  on  the  day 
of  the  Holy  Angels,  1517,  was  followed  by  a  similar  one 
on  "Whitsunday,  1518,  on  the  miraculous  cure  of  the  sick 
of  the  palsy,  Luke  5  :  21.  The  efi^ect  of  these  festival 
sermons  was  great,  and  extended  far  beyond  the  bound- 
aries of  Switzerland.  Such  a  bold,  profoundly  learned, 
and  inspired  preacher  had  not  been  seen  in  Einsiedeln 


48  TUE    LIFE    OP    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

before.  Many  pilgrims  heard  tlie  word  of  truth  with 
dread,  others  received  it  with  joy,  and  propagated  it  on 
their  way  home,  saying  :  "  People  need  no  longer  go  to 
Einsiedeln  for  the  forgiveness  of  sins  ;  God  gives  it 
through  Christ,  and  without  money,  wherever  they  sin- 
cerely ask  it  of  Ilim."  Such  surprising  accounts 
sounding  almost  like  a  fable,  induced  other  souls  in 
search  of  salvation  to  come  to  Einsiedeln,  desiring  to 
hear  more  of  such  comforting  doctrines.  Even  learned 
men  travelled  to  Einsiedeln  in  order  to  hear  the  testi- 
mony concerning  the  Crucified  One  from  the  lips  of 
Zwingli  himself.  Thus,  at  Whitsuntide,  1517,  there 
appeared  in  the  great  congregation  a  minister  by  the 
name  of  Dr.  Hedio,  from  Basel,  who  was  so  transported 
with  joy  that  he  most  earnestly  entreated  Zwingh  to 
receive  him  into  the  circle  of  his  friends,  or  at  least  to 
allow  him  to  be  the  shadow  of  a  friend.  Of  the  sermon 
he  expressed  this  opinion  :  "It  was  beautiful,  thorough, 
solemn,  comprehensive,  penetrating,  evangelical  in  the 
power  of  its  language  and  spirit,  reminding  one  of  the 
old  Church  fathers. ' ' 

Zwingli  not  only  endeavored  to  impress  the  people 
during  his  stay  in  Einsiedeln,  but  also,  wherever  possible, 
the  clergy  and  dignitaries  of  the  Church.  When  the 
Cardinal-bishop  of  Sitten  in  Yallais,  Matthseus  Schinner, 
once  visited  Zwingli,  the  latter  led  the  conversation  to 
the  human  ordinances  and  the  great  pomp  in  worship. 
He  cautioned  the  Cardinal  as  to  the  results  that  would 
follow  the  evils  that  had  been  so  long  and  vainly  noticed, 
and  admonished  him  to  lay  hold  of  the  Reformation  him- 
self, as  the  papacy  rested  on  a  poor  foundation,  which 
he  clearly  and  irrefutably  proved  to  him  from  Holy 
Scripture.  He  also  discussed  the  Reformation  with  the 
papal  legate   in    Switzerland,    Antonius   Puccius.     He 


FROM    GLARUS   TO    EIXSIEDELN.  49 

desired  tlie  free  and  unhindered  preaching  of  the  Gospel, 
saying  that  he,  hitherto  unmolested  bj  human  ordi- 
nances, would  continue  to  preach  the  pure  Gospel  to  the 
people,  which  would  cause  popery  to  totter. 

Such  well-meant,  warning  voices,  however,  remained 
unheeded,  though  both  these  dignitaries  acknowledged 
the  demoralized  condition  of  the  Church.  True,  an  an- 
swer to  such  complaints  reached  Zwingli  from  Rome. 
Zwingli  despised  it.  He  esteemed  the  ignominy  of 
Christ  and  His  crown  of  thorns  more  highly  than  the 
honorable  position  of  "an  acolyte-chaplain  to  the  Pope," 
which  was  offered  him  with  the  most  flattering  expres- 
sions of  regard.  Instead  of  allowing  himself  to  be 
bribed  by  Rome,  he  now  directed  his  attention  to  the 
Bishop  of  Constance,  Hugo  of  Landenberg,  who  had  ad- 
dressed a  pastoral  letter  to  the  clergy,  solemnly  deplor- 
ing the  increasing  degeneracy  of  the  Church.  Nor  from 
Constance  could  Zwingli  obtain  support  in  his  struggles 
for  Kefonnation,  The  high  dignitaries  of  the  Pope 
were  evidently  not  the  men  whom  God  had  destined  for 
the  reconstruction  of  His  deeply  corrupted  Church.  For 
a  long  time  indeed  Zwingli  had  been  assured  in  his  own 
mind  that  no  help  could  be  expected  from  Rome  ;  that 
the  papacy  must  fall  ;  and  he  calmly  and  deliberately 
continued  the  work  of  Reformation. 
'  At  this  time,  when  Zwingli  still  labored  in  Einsiedeln, 
Bemhardin  Samson,  a  barefooted  friar,  entei-ed  Sv/itzer- 
land  by  way  of  Mount  Gothard,  August,  1518,  bringing 
letters  of  indulgence  from  the  Pope,  and  selling  the  for- 
giveness of  sin  for  money.  He  had  obtained  power 
from  Pope  Leo  X,,  not  only  to  forgive  past  sins  for  pay, 
but  also  sins  that  were  yet  to  be  committed.*     He  es- 

*  Indnlgcnlicc  ante  factum. — L. 


50  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

pecially  claimed  power  to  deliver  souls  from  purgatory, 
and  boasted  : 

"  When  the  money  in  mj-  platter  rings, 
The  soul  from  purgatory  .springs. " 

As  soon  as  Zwiugli  heard  of  Samson's  imposture,  lie 
earnestly  preached  against  indulgences,  no  one  under- 
taking to  hinder  him.  The  result  was  that  the  papistical 
impostor  fled  hurriedly  from  the  Cantons  Uri  and 
Schwyz.  He  came  to  Zug,  where  he  carried  on  his 
trade  for  three  days,  receiving  wagon-loads  of  money. 
The  poor  and  the  rich  crowded  around  him.  One  day 
when  the  poor  were  more  importunate  than  the  rich,  he 
turned  them  a\\'ay  M^ith  these  words  :  "  Dear  people,  do 
not  crowd  yourselves  forward  so  eagerly.  Let  those 
come  first  who  have  money  ;  I  Avill  afterward  give  good 
advice  to  those  also  who  liave  no  money."  From 
thence  he  visited  the  Cantons  Unterwaiden  and  Lu- 
zerne, and  after  first  sending  several  loads  of  money  to 
Christoph  of  Ferli,  the  Pope's  general  agent  in  Switzer- 
land, he  continued  his  very  remunerative  journey  to 
Berne.  At  first  the  Bernese  refused  to  receive  him,  but 
Samson  was  not  easily  frightened.  Here  too  he  suc- 
ceeded in  filling  his  bags  with  money,  and  then  early  in 
the  year  1519  he  moved  down  the  Argau  toward  Zürich, 
where  we  shall  meet  him  again. 

Public  esteem  for  the  fearless  preacher  of  Einsiedeln 
rose  higher  daily.  At  home  and  abroad  his  admirers  in- 
creased, new  friends  daily  joining  his  ranks,  and  the  old 
becoming  more  intimately  united  to  him.  Entire  cities 
also  looked  up  to  him,  Winterthur  sent  him  a  call  ; 
Glarus  begged  him  to  return  ;  Einsiedeln  tried  to  keep 
him.  All  in  vain.  Zürich  was  waiting  for  him. 
Thither  he  should  go,  according  to   God's  counsel  and 


FROM  GLAUL'S  TO  EINSIKDELN".  51 

will.  There  his  appropriate  and  last  field  awaited  him, 
for  which  Glarus  and  Einsiedehi  had  served  as  prepara- 
tory schools  to  qualify  him  by  a  twelve  years'  experience 
in  the  pastoral  office,  to  he  the  man  whom  Zürich 
needed.  A  remarkable  arrangement  of  God  :  When 
toward  the  close  of  the  year  1518  the  pastorate  in  the 
Great  Minster  of  Zürich  became  vacant,  many  men  im- 
mediately suggested  that  Zwingli  be  secured  for  it.  My- 
conius,  for  several  years  dean  in  the  Great  Minster 
school,  wrote  to  Zwingli  and  solemnly  asked  liim  to  con- 
sider the  matter.  Zwino-li  manifested  a  willingness  to 
accej)t  the  position,  especially  so  as  Myconins  replied  to 
him  :  "  You  have  friends  here,  but  also  bitter  fault- 
finders— a  smaller  number  of  these.  I  have  visited 
many  of  the  laity.  They  say  that  vou  will  be  the  evan- 
gelist of  their  native  city.  I  also  know  that  some  of  the 
canons  say  the  same  thing,  but  secretly."  Though 
Zwingli  could  call  his  situation  at  Einsiedeln  a  happy 
one,  and  the  lord  of  Geroldseck  had  bound  him  by  great 
promises,  which  he  had  not  yet  fulfilled,  his  resolve  had 
been  firmly  made  to  accept,  if  elected,  as  he  had  good 
reasons  to  hope  that  in  Zürich  he  could  labor  with  yet 
better  results  than  in  Einsiedeln.  For  Zürich  was  not 
only  the  centre  of  all  public  affairs  of  Switzerland, 
which  always  drew  thither  immbers  of  distinguished 
statesmen,  but  it  was  also,  on  account  of  its  many 
learned  men,  who  lived  in  retirement  there,  the  most 
convenient  place  for  work  on  a  grand  scale,  for  scatter- 
ing the  seed  of  the  Word  over  entire  Helvetia.  Hero  he 
also  found  a  permanent  audience,  whereas  at  Einsiedeln 
his  hearers  consisted  of  pilgrims  who  had  no  abode  there. 
On  the  11th  of  December,  1518,  the  election  was  held. 
He  was  chosen  by  a  largo  •  majority,  seventeen  canons 
voting  for  him,  and  only  seven  against  him,  which  is  a 


5;i  Tin-:  life  ov  ulkic  zwixoli. 

matter  of  great  wonder,  as  they  all  knew  that  there  Avould 
be  an  end  of  the  papacy  and  of  the  honors  which  they 
had  received  from  Rome,  if  Zwingli's  sermons  should 
jjrevail,  of  which  each  felt  alreaily  assured  in  advance. 
At  Einsiedeln  the  people  reluctantly  gave  him  up.  Ho 
was  greatly  beloved,  not  only  by  the  prior,  but  by  the 
people  and  the  government  of  the  Canton  Schwyz.  At 
home  and  abroad,  ^vllerever  Zwingli's  name  was  known, 
the  people  were  delighted  with  the  news  of  his  election. 
Glareanus  Avrote  from  Paris,  January  19th,  1519  :  "  All 
the  Swiss  youth  rejoice  and  huzza,  especially  the  Zürich- 
ers." Before  he  left  Einsiedcln,  however,  he  took 
measures  to  secure  for  it  a  like-minded  successor,  who 
was  found  in  the  person  of  Leo  Juda.  On  the  strength 
of  his  recommendation  the  congregation  in  Glarus  chose 
Valentine  Tschudi.  To  the  people  of  Winterthur  he 
recommended  his  friend  Dingauer,  whom  they  accord- 
ingly elected.  Though  Einsiedeln  has  remained  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Roman  Church,  his  two  years  of  evangeli- 
cally reforming  work  were  by  no  means  in  vain. 
Calmly  and  with  good  cheer  he  could  now,  toward  the 
end  of  December,  direct  his  steps  toward  Zürich. 


CIIAPTEE  YII. 

ZWING  Li's    CONNECTION    WITH     EOME — SAD    RESULTS. 

By  tlie  successful  issue  of  the  Bnrgundian  war  and  the 
war  with  the  Emperor  and  the  Swabian  League  of  the 
Knights  of  St.  George's  Shiekl,  Confederate  Switzer- 
land had  not  only  saved  and  confirmed  its  freedom,  and 
thereljy  secured  a  stronger  self-consciousness,  but  was 
also  elevated  for  a  time  to  a  political  prominence  which 
brought  for  the  people  of  the  Confederacy  not  only  ad- 
vantages, but  also  very  painful  losses.  It  is  true,  many 
old  prejudices  were  lost  by  the  war,  and  people  learned 
how  to  judge  more  correctly  of  state  and  national  wants. 
But  the  succeeding  struggles  and  fortunes  of  this  vener- 
able Republic  taught  that  many  pious  customs  of  the  an- 
cient fathers — who  oifered  up  everything  to  their  faith 
in  freedom,  and  felt  themselves  so  strong  in  this  tliat 
they  esteemed  friendship  and  right  above  everything — 
were  lost  by  customs  imported  from  abroad  !  For  the 
present,  the  political  freedom  obtained  strengthened  the 
old  indignation  against  the  tyrannic  rule  of  the  priests 
and  the  intolerance  which  enchained  the  spirit  of  the  free 
people.  P^our  hundred  years  before,  Ilanrich  in  "West- 
ern Helvetia  and  Arnold  of  Brescia,  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  country,  had  risen  against  the  Eoman  hierarchy, 
its  culttis,  teaching,  and  dogmatics.  They  had  found 
many  adherents,  who  in  secret  earnestly  longed  for  more 
propitious  times.  In  the  beginning  of  tlie  lOtli  century 
th.e  Swiss    entered  into    political    connection  with   the 


54  THE    LIFE    OF    ULIIIC    ZWINGLI. 

Poj^e,  AvliosG  crafty  rcpreseutations  tliey  readily  believed, 
aud  wlio  knew  well  liow  to  gain  the  first  place  among 
the  princes  that  applied  for  their  troops.  Yet  the  indi- 
vidual cantons  were  not  blind  to  the  abuses  and  assump- 
tions of  the  PajDal  Court,  which,  on  account  of  its  re- 
peated perfidy  toward  inoffensive  Switzerland,  they 
could  no  lunger  esteem  as  formerly.  The  alliance, 
which  had  been  too  inconsiderately  entered  into  with 
Rome,  and  the  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
Court  resulting  from  it,  opened  the  eyes  of  those  whose 
perception  had  not  beeii  blinded  by  their  ancient  rever- 
ence. Though  the  Pope  and  his  legates  insidiously 
tried  to  induce  them  to  obey  him  blindly  also  in  political 
affairs  as  the  infallible  Head  of  Christendom,  they  never 
succeeded.  In  the  year  1517  Leo  X.  conferred  the  230si- 
tion  of  chief  of  his  guards,  rendered  vacant  by  the  death 
of  Casper  of  Silenen,  on  the  distinguished  burgomaster 
of  Zurich,  Marx  Poust,  through  whom  he  designed  to 
influence  the  Swiss  in  his  favor  ;  but  throughout  Switz- 
erland the  proffered  position  was  looked  upon  as  nei- 
ther honorable  to  the  Head  of  the  Swiss  League  nor 
compatible  with  his  office  ;  and  the  burgomaster  himself 
pleaded  that  his  advanced  age  prevented  the  acceptance 
of  it.  But  Ennius,  the  Pope's  legate,  knew  weU  how 
craftily  to  meet  all  objections.  He  maintained  "that 
the  guarding  of  the  Yicegerent  of  Christ  was  the  high- 
est possible  honor  for  the  Swiss.  Many  had  tried  to 
obtain  the  position,  but  the  Pope  would  confer  it  upon 
no  one  except  his  most  dearly  beloved  sons,  the  Ziiiich- 
ers.  And  not  to  deprive  Switzerland  too  long  of  the 
services  of  this  excellent  man,  the  Pope  would  ere  lonsj 
honorably  discharge  him,  and  allow  his  son  to  succeed 
him.  He  would  incur  no  risk  as  to  his  health,  as  God 
would  not  allow  that  one  travelling  in  the  service  of  His 


ZWIJfGLl's    COifJSrECTION"  WITH    HOME — SAD    RESULTS.    55 

vicegerent  on  eartli  should  suffer  injury  while  obeying 
the  divine  call."  That  sufficed.  The  burgomaster  was 
allowed  to  depart.  Meanwhile  the  Pope  did  not  gain 
much  by  this  step.  For,  as  he  called  upon  the  Swiss  to 
take  part  in  the  war  against  the  Turks,  but  directed  his 
attacks  against  the  Duke  of  Albino,  and  through  the 
Cardinal-bishop  of  Sitten,  Mattheeus  Schinner,  hired 
several  thousand  Swiss,  the  Confederate  cantons  pro- 
hibited the  enlistment.  Leo  sent  a  second  time.  He 
asked  for  6000  men.  They  were  refused  him.  But  he 
in  other  ways  procured  7000,  led  them  in  seven  divisions 
into  Italy,  and  thus  broke  the  treaty  of  alliance. 

A  third  time  Leo  sent  a  legate,  and  asked  for  12,000 
for  the  Pope's  expedition  against  the  Turks.  His  legate 
was  not  now,  as  before,  Ennius,  but  Antonius  Puccius. 
He  promised,  in  the  name  of  his  master,  that  the  Pope 
would  take  the  entire  Swiss  force,  on  account  of  their 
bravery  and  fidelity,  as  liis  body-guard,  and  command 
them  in  person.  In  vain.  A  few  months  later,  in  1518, 
he  again  under  a  similar  pretext  asked  for  the  same 
number  of  men.  Switzerland  promised  him  10,000  as 
soon  as  all  Christendom  would  take  up  arms.  To  make 
up  the  deficiency  of  2000  men,  they  proposed  to  send 
him  that  number  of  priests  !  But  the  Pope  could  not 
be  intimidated,  and  a  year  later  he  sent  his  legate  Puc- 
cius to  the  Confederate  Diet  at  Glarus,  requesting  Switz- 
erland not  to  enter  into  an  alliance  with  any  nation,  so 
that  the  Pope  might,  in  case  of  necessity,  use  their 
troops  against  the  Turks.  Switzerland  replied  to  him 
with  a  complaint  :  "  The  Pope  pays  the  annual  pensions 
very  tardily,  and  even  then  in  depreciated  currency. 
The  clerical  offices  were  sold  for  money  to  the  soldiers, 
who  afterward  resold  them.  The  bishops  defended  and 
acquitted  priests  charged  with  murder,  and  convicted  of 


56  TnU    LIFE    OF    ULUIC    ZWINGLI. 

lieresy  and  the  grossest  crimes."  Puccius  made  all  sorts 
of  promises,  but  kept  none.  "When  the  cantons  saw 
that  no  abolition  of  existing  abuses  could  be  expected 
from  the  Eoman  Court,  they  unanimously  resolved  to 
rely  upon  themselves  ;  that  thereafter  every  one  that 
bought  a  pastoral  charge  should  be  put  in  a  bag  and 
drowned.  The  Pope  remained  silent.  In  October  of 
the  same  year  he  sent  his  legate,  with  increased  powers, 
to  the  Confederates,  and  asked  the  Diet  to  defend  the 
Holy  See,  exterminate  the  new  doctrine,  and  burn  all 
books  on  the  subject.  At  this  demand  a  fire  hitherto 
smouldering  under  the  ashes  had  well-nigh  broken  out 
into  brilliant  flames,  for  some  approved,  others  rejected, 
the  demand.  First,  the  troops  asked  for  the  defence  of 
the  Holy  See  were  refused.  The  Diet  wished  to  know 
first  against  whom  they  were  to  be  employed.  After 
declining  to  tell  for  a  long  while,  Puccius  said  :  "  Per- 
haj)s  against  the  Duke  of  Ferrara  ;  also  against  the 
French."  To  secure  this  dukedom  for  himself,  the 
Pope  had  made  an  attempt  to  assassinate  the  Duke.  In 
May  of  the  same  year  he  had  also  l)roken  with  the 
French,  and  formed  an  alliance  with  the  Emperor.  At 
last  6000  men  were  furnished  him. 

In  the  following  year  the  King  of  Franco  asked  of  the 
Diet,  which  met  in  Luzerne  August  3d,  a  levy  of 
troops,  and  to  gain  his  end  bribed  the  deputies  of  the 
cantons.  He  succeeded.  Two  months  later  the  Pope 
again  sent  his  legate  Ennius,  and  demanded  through  him 
at  least  6000  men  to  light  against  France.  They  were 
refused,  as  Switzerland  had  lately  formed  an  alliance 
with  France.  Ennius  threatened  that  soldiers  must  be 
speedily  furnished,  or  Rome  would  hire  Confederates  in 
and  outside  of  Switzerland.  In  vain  was  the  prohibi- 
tion of  enlistments  more  firmly  insisted  upon.      During 


ZWIXGLI'S    CONNECTION  WITH    HOME — SAD    RESULTS.    57 

harvest,  in  some  localities,  tlie  reapers  in  crowds  crossed 
the  boundaries  and  joined  the  papal  arm3\  Money  daz- 
zled them.  In  vain  the  Diet,  assembled  at  Zürich 
August  17th,  forbade  the  taking  of  any  money  or  pen- 
sions from  foreign  princes.  However  fervent  the  wish, 
it  accomplished  no  good. 

At  this  Diet  also  tlie  Pope's  legate,  Ennius,  ap- 
peared, and  asked  the  question,  Whether  or  not  the 
Swiss  would  furnish  the  Pope  with  troops  ?  In  vain 
Zwingli  preached  and  warned  tlie  Swiss  against  the  en- 
listment. Zürich  alone  gave  2700  more  men,  and  the 
Pope  continued  to  flatter,  thus  securing  11,700  addi- 
tional men.  All  the  districts  except  Zürich  forbade  on 
pain  of  death  this  running  to  the  Pope,  but  could  not  by 
such  decrees  hinder  many  citizens  from  secretly  offering 
their  services  to  the  Cardinal,  who  promised  them  almost 
double  pay.  On  learning  that  the  Cardinal  was  leading 
the  troops  to  France,  Switzerland  quickly  checked  him. 
The  troops  were  required  to  take  an  oath  not  to  fight 
against  their  brethren.  The  Pope  was  more  powerful 
than  the  oath.  Having  reached  Italy,  the  soldiers  were 
released  from  the  obligation  of  their  oath,  and  the  Pope 
succeeded  in  taking  Milan  without  a  battle.  This,  how- 
ever, produced  only  temporary  joy.  Parma  and  Pia- 
cenza  were  occupied  by  the  Zürichers.  The  Pope  died. 
The  two  cities  were  transferred  to  the  Zürichers  as  secu- 
rity for  arrears  of  pay,  and,  in  case  of  non-payment,  the 
cities  were  to  belong  to  them.  The  Zürich  troops  were 
called  home.  France  obtained  sympathy  ;  the  party  of 
the  Pope,  opposition.  During  the  vacancy  of  the  papal 
chair,  Ennius,  in  the  name  of  the  College  of  Cardinals, 
desired  that  Switzerland  should  dissolve  its  alliance  with 
France,  and  join  the  alliance  of  the  Pope  and  Emperor 
for  the  defence  of  Milan,  and  furnish  10,000  soldiers 


58  THE    IJFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLT. 

for  the  purpose.  Both  requests  were  declined.  On  the 
contrary,  France  now  received  10,000  men,  of  whom 
3000  never  returned,  but  were  buried  in  Bicocca. 
This  loss  of  life  pz'oduced  aversion  to  foreign  pensions, 
and  induced  Zug  to  renounce  foreign  service  for 
twenty-five  years.  In  January,  1522,  Adrian  VI.  was 
elevated  to  the  papal  throne,  and  his  election  was  an- 
nounced to  the  Swiss.  He  proposed  an  alliance  to 
Zürich.  In  vain.  Adrian  died  the  same  year,  and  was 
succeeded,  in  1523,  1)y  Clemens  YII.  He  at  once 
began  greatly  to  extol  the  Zürichers  for  the  faithful  ser- 
vices they  had  constantly  rendered  the  Papal  See, 
offered  excuses  for  the  non-payment  of  the  joensions 
during  several  years  past,  and  promised  to  cancel  the 
debt  if  the  Zürichers  would  conform  to  the  religion  of 
the  other  cantons.  But  the  money  was  never  forth- 
coming. In  152'!,  therefore,  Zürich  sent  two  dis- 
tinguished jnen  to  Rome,  Treasurer  Jacob  Werdmueller 
and  John  Rudolph  Lavater.  The  former  kissed  the 
Pope's  slipj)er.  Lavater,  on  the  contrary,  refused  to 
come  nearer  to  the  Pope,  saying  :  "I  am  sorry  that  I 
must  be  so  near  you."  Clemens  i-eceived  the  two 
deputies  very  ungraciously,  accused  them  of  heresy,  de- 
manded that  they  should  desist  from  it  and  exterminate 
it  from  their  country.  The  request  was  not  granted. 
Thereupon  the  Zürichers  went  to  Constance,  but  here 
too  they  were  refused. 

In  the  same  year,  1524,  the  Confederates  granted 
four  levies  of  troops  to  France,  with  which  France  re- 
covered Milan  without  a  battle.  Zürich  continued  to 
demand  the  pension  arrears,  but  in  vain.  Joachim  am 
Grütwas  sent  to  Rome  in  October,  but  was  informed  that 
no  payment  would  be  made  unless  Zürich  returned  to 
the  bosom  of  the  Church.     Am  Grüt  proved  a  traitor. 


ZWIXGLI'S    CONNECTION  WITH    ROME — SAD    RESULTS.    59 

lie  returned  from  Rome  and  showered  a  flood  of  accu- 
sations against  the  Reformation  that  had  been  begun. 
The  Pope  had  himself  sent  a  letter  to  the  Zürichers,  say- 
ing :  "  If  you  do  not  renounce  your  new,  ungodly  er- 
rors, how  can  we  satisfy  your  demand  for  money,  how^ever 
just  it  may  be,  without  violating  the  justice  and  fear  of 
God,  when  we  cannot  even  allow  errorists  to  keep  what 
they  have  inherited  from  their  parents  ?"  Zürich  replied, 
but  all  its  representations  availed  nothing.  The  Papal 
Court  was  pleased  to  seethe  enemies  of  the  faith  involved 
in  perplexity.  It  did  not  wish  to  help  them  out  of  their 
embarrassment.  To  restore  domestic  peace,  Zürich  was 
compelled,  after  the  unfortunate  battle  of  Kappel,  to 
appear  so  submissive  as  to  seem  to  confirm  the  report, 
designedly  circulated,  that  Zürich  would  again  introduce 
the  mass. 

To  deprive  their  enemies  of  this  hope  and  the  friends 
of  the  Gospel  of  their  fear,  the  Council  of  Zürich  pub- 
lished a  declaration,  in  which  the  liberty  heretofore  ac- 
corded to  go  to  mass  was  withdrawn.  It  gave  the  assur- 
ance that  they  would  adhere  to  the  received  truth,  in 
spite  of  the  mishaps  that  had  befallen  them,  and  that 
they  would  no  longer  permit  mass  to  be  said  in  any  part 
of  their  territory.  This  binding  declaration,  which  the 
friends  of  the  Gospel  made  known  everywhere,  even  in 
the  Diet  assembled  at  Regeiisberg,  so  excited  the  legate 
Ennius,  whom  the  Pope  had  again  ordered  to  Switzer- 
land, that  he  made  every  possible  effort  to  bring  Zwin- 
gli's  faithful  helpers,  Leo  Juda,  and  his  successor  in 
office,  Bullinger,  into  discredit,  and  have  them  dismiss- 
ed, because  by  their  sermons  they  again  kindled  the 
failing  courage  and  zeal  of  the  people.  He  employed  all 
means  to  incite  the  cantons  that  remained  Catholic 
against  those  that  had  become  Reformed. 


60  TUE    LIFE   OF    ULKIC    ZWINGLI. 

In  the  succeeding  year,  1533,  Clemens  YII.  formed 
an  alliance  ■\vitli  the  Catholic  States — Lnzerne,  Uri, 
Schwyz,  Unterwaiden,  Zng,  and  Freiberg — against  the 
Reformed  cantons.  Zürich  demanded  the  dissolution 
of  this  alliance  because  it  was  in  conflict  with  the  Con- 
federate covenants,  and  because  Zürich  itself  had 
recently  declined  an  alliance  with  France  prejudicial  to 
the  Pope.  Ennius  promised  to  pay  the  debts  of  the 
Pope  if  Zürich  would  come  back.  But  Zürich  preferred 
to  let  its  demands  on  the  Pope  go,  and  to  remain 
faithful  to  the  Refomiation.  This  forever  divided 
Switzerland  into  Reformed  and  Catholic  cantons.  Such 
was  the  end  and  such  were  the  sad  results  of  the  alliance 
of  Ziii'ich  and  the  now  Reformed  cantons  with  Rome. 
At  that  time  Rome  had  already  adopted  the  principle, 
afterward  loudly  proclaimed,  that  *'  no  faith  is  to  be  kept 
with  heretics,"  which  assisted  the  Reformation  far  more 
than  Rome  itself  suspected,  and  enkindled  in  all  right- 
minded  persons  a  holy  indignation  against  this  proced- 
ure.    A  reformation  could  no  longer  fail  to  come. 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

OTHER   PEEPABATOKY   CIRCUMSTANCES. 

If  the  ancient  Swiss  had  two  hundred  years  before  en- 
gaged in  war,  it  was  to  maintain  their  freedom  and  inde- 
pendence. Now,  on  the  contrary,  wars  were  waged  for 
money  and  glory.  The  imhappy  results  of  the  Italian 
wars  contributed  greatly  to  secure  an  entrance  for  the 
teachings  of  the  Swiss  Eefonners.  With  undaunted 
courage  they  held  up  these  results  before  the  eyes  of  the 
Confederates.  These  representations  made  a  deep  im- 
pression upon  all  districts  where  self-interest  had  not  yet 
blinded  the  mind  of  the  great  in  regard  to  the  welfare  of 
the  Fatherland.  It  was  remarkable  how  the  mania  of 
the  Swiss  to  enter  foreign  military  service  destroyed  tlie 
foundations  of  all  civil  and  moral  order,  the  obedience 
of  subjects  to  the  command  of  the  government,  the 
obedience  of  children  to  parents,  the  peace  of  families, 
the  general  welfare,  and  private  and  public  education, 
producing  disagreement  between  citizens  and  members 
of  the  Confederacy,  rebellion,  depopulation,  neglect  of 
agriculture,  luxury,  poverty,  and  beggary.  The  viola- 
tion by  the  great  and  rich  of  the  prohibitions  concerning 
pensions,  presents,  and  foreign  enlistments  accustomed 
the  common  people  to  the  disregard  of  the  laws.  If  a 
son  was  not  indulged  in  every  whim,  he  at  once  ran  off 
to  war  !  How  sadly  this  habit  must  have  weakened  the 
bond  of  love  between  parents  and  children,  and  brothers 
and  sisters,  and  especially  when  such  a  runaway  son  re- 


6y  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

turned  liomo  as  an  old  soldier,  a  good-for-notliing  fel- 
low unused  to  work,  his  only  j^ossessions  some  foreign 
curses — disease  and  shameless  presumption.  The  disso- 
lute husband  and  father,  too  lazy  to  work,  too  proud  to 
beg,  if  his  wife  failed  to  please  him  in  all  things,  or  was 
no  longer  beautiful,  deserted  w  ife  and  children  and  went 
to  war  !  People  complained  bitterly  that  the  untrained 
children,  deprived  of  their  fathers,  grew  up  without 
proper  discipline,  in  filth  and  poverty,  becoming  a  bur- 
den to  their  relatives  ;  and  even  if  the  father  Avas  not 
killed  in  war,  they  received  no  support  from  him  during 
his  absence,  as  he  needed  all  his  earnings  for  himself  ; 
and  when  ho  returned  home,  they  learned  from  his  ex- 
ample only  curses,  scolding,  idleness,  carousing  and 
gambling,  stealing  and  begging. 

The  factions  of  the  Pope  and  the  French,  who  had 
their  adherents  in  each  canton,  designedly  disturbed  the 
peace  between  the  citizens  as  well  as  cantons,  and  occa- 
sioned frequently  most  saddening  scenes  in  meetings  of 
the  Diet  and  Council.  Such  a  sight  occurred  at  Berne  in 
1520.  When  color-bearer  Casper  "Wyler,  who  had  ob- 
tained this  honor  in  1488,  suddenly  died  of  paralysis  in 
the  Council,  the  French  party,  led  by  color-bearer  Bene- 
dict of  Weingarten,  attacked  the  honor  of  this  upright 
man.  He  had  remained  unshaken  in  his  fidelity  to  the 
imperial  and  papal  party,  and  had  frequently  accused 
them  of  receiving  French  mone}'  ;  they  now  retaliated 
by  charging  that  he  had  himself  received  28,400  francs 
from  the  Pope.  They  insisted  upon  it  that  his  remains 
should  be  removed  from  the  minster  and  thrown  on  the 
camon  field  !  The  dishonor  was  not  committed,  but 
his  heirs  were  compelled  to  pay  the  sum  named  into  the 
state  treasury,  until  they  could  prove  that  he  had  not 
received   the  money  for  himself.     Party  spirit   caused 


OTHER    PKEPARATORY    CIRCUMSTANCES.  03 

still  greater  mischief  at  Freiburg,  where  in  1511  Mayor 
Franz  Arsent  was  beheaded  at  the  instigation  of  the 
Austrian  party.  Similar  results  appeared  in  Zug. 
Zürich  itself,  because  it  refused  to  join  the  other  can- 
tons in  their  alliance  with  France,  but  sided  with  the 
Pope,  drew  down  upon  itself  the  hatred  of  nearly  all  the 
other  states. 

It  is  indeed  true  that  these  wars  brought  vast  sums  of 
money  into  Switzerland.  Milan  atoned  for  its  incon- 
stancy, after  the  battle  of  Navarra,  by  paying  200,000 
ducats.  Francis  I.  sent  4,800,000  francs  to  Berne  ;  at 
Freiburg  liis  ambassador  poured  out  a  heap  of  golden 
crowns  on  the  pavement  to  display  the  wealth  and  lib- 
erahty  of  his  king  ;  his  treasurer  showed  the  Swiss  that 
they  had  received,  during  nineteen  years,  exclusive  of 
the  pay  of  the  troops,  in  pensions  and  presents  alone, 
23,110,840  francs.  To  this  must  be  added  the  booty 
obtained.  A  single  Swiss  tailor-apprentice  once  seized 
two  bags  of  money,  each  containing  GOOO  crowns,  or 
120,000  francs.  In  this  way,  however,  but  few  became 
rich.  "  The  rest  are  poor,  ragged  felloAvs  ;  if  some 
escape  alive,  they  lounge  around,  bent,  lame,  and  useless, 
a  burden  to  their  parents.  The  king  cares  nothing 
about  it."  Those  who  returned  empty-handed  hated 
their  more  fortunate  brethren,  and  these  provoked  the 
anger  of  the  poorer  ones  so  much  that  harmony  and 
feeling  for  the  mutual  good  grew  ever  rarer.  Some  of 
those  who  had  enriched  themselves  with  this  money 
were  again  reduced  to  poverty  by  the  increasing  luxury 
in  clothing  and  display.  The  friends  of  primitive  sim- 
plicity of  manners  complained  loudly  that  the  returned 
officers  introduced  into  the  cities  and  cantons  foreign 
fashions  in  clothing,  costly  furniture,  and  expensive  food 
and  drink.     The  pomp  of  the  Spanish,   the  changing 


64  THE    LIFE    OF    ULKIC    ZWIXOLI. 

fashions  of  the  French  and  Italian  embroidery,  prevailed 
more  and  more,  Peoj^le  recognized  the  Swiss  no  longer. 
To  check  the  evil  Berne  imposed  a  fine  of  five  francs  for 
the  cutting  of  clothing  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  the  silk 
lining  through  it.  Jacob  von  Stein,  surnamed  "  the 
Small,' '  from  the  Canton  Berne,  a  returned  soldier,  soon 
involved  himself,  by  display  of  costly  kneebands,  in 
debts  which  he  could  not  pay.  Lombardy  neck  and 
shirt  collars  of  finest  quality,  Spanish  cajDs,  hats,  and 
other  head-coverings  of  velvet  ;  gay-colored  shoes,  such 
as  barely  concealed  the  toes,  and  yet  costing  twice  as 
much  as  those  usually  worn  in  the  country  ;  long  pon- 
iards, Italian  swords,  expensively  gilded  daggers,  cut  and 
frizzled  hair  and  beards,  constituted  the  dress  and  adorn- 
ments of  the  men  trained  in  foreign  lands.  The  women 
too  received  from  abroad  cloaks  with  capes,  Milanese 
embroidery  on  head-cloths,  hoods,  sleeves,  and  aprons, 
which  \vere  far  more  expensive  than  the  material  of 
which  they  were  made.  This  love  of  splendor  begot  in 
the  once  proud  Swiss  people  a  despicable  beggar-spirit, 
not  only  in  the  men  but  also  in  the  women,  and  even 
in  the  maturer  youth.  The  French  commissioners 
especially  stimulated  it  by  presents.  They  provided 
meals  at  the  hotels  for  the  country  people  that  came  into 
the  cities.  In  Luzerne  they  paid  at  one  time  for  8(M), 
and  at  Berne  for  1100  guests.  The  ancient  love  of 
lionor  soon  became  lost,  and  many  who  in  their  youth 
would  hare  been  ashamed  to  allow  others  to  feed  them, 
crowded  themselves,  vrithout  hesitation,  to  these  disrepu- 
table drinking  banquets. 

The  loss  of  men,  and  indeed  of  the  most  vigorous 
youths,  which  the  Italian  wars  occasioned,  is  almost  in- 
credible. Thus,  of  the  8000  Confederates  vrho  went  on 
the  Neapolitan  expedition,   only  1500  returned  home, 


OTHElt   PREPAIIATORY    CIRCUMSTAIs'CES.  65 

Dut  died  soon  after  their  arrival.  About  5000  men  in 
French  pay  were  lost  in  the  wars  of  Lombardj.  The 
battle  of  Marignano  alone  cost  5000  men.  The  battle 
of  Bicocca  consumed  3000  men.  Besides  these,  many- 
thousands  lost  their  lives  by  starvation  and  pestilence. 
This  dread  depopulation  and  the  inclination  to  an  idle 
life  withdrew  so  many  hands  from  agriculture  that  the 
once  beautiful  fields  lay  uncultivated  and  overgrown 
with  weeds  and  forests.  In  the  year  1513  there  even 
arose  rebellions  in  Berne,  Solothurn,  and  Luzerne.  The 
unhappy  campaigns  of  foreign  rulers,  who  drew  their 
troops  from  the  Swiss,  and  the  factions  which  were  in- 
cited among  the  people  by  the  agents  of  these  rulers, 
brought  the  country  to  the  verge  of  ruin.  The  adher- 
ents of  France  opposed  the  party  of  the  Pope  and  Em- 
peror. These  latter  opposed  the  former.  Between  the 
two  lay  poor  Switzerland,  plucked  and  impoverished  by 
both.  On  all  hands  arose  disturbances  and  insurrections. 
In  Canton  Berne  300  farmers  arose,  went  to  the  city  of 
Berne,  and  challenged  the  French  instigators,  who  ceased 
not  in  their  own  interest  to  scatter  money  among  tlie 
people.  They  were  especially  exasperated  against  Con- 
i-ad  Glaser,  the  treasurer,  who  used  to  throw  the  money  to 
the  people.  Not  finding  him,  as  he  had  escaped,  they 
seized  the  cellar  and  took  by  storm  the  house  of  the 
veteran  color-bearer,  Casper  Iletzel,  of  Lindach.  But  he 
v/as  absent.  One  may  imagine  how  the  enraged  farmers 
acted  in  going  from  the  cellar  through  the  house.  The 
whole  city  was  tlirown  into  fear  on  account  of  these 
country  assailants.  Peter  Dettlinger,  the  color-bearer, 
whose  duty  it  M^as  to  hinder  their  entrance,  narrovv'ly 
escaped  with  his  life.  The  old  Mayor,  Wilhelm  von 
Dieszbach,  only  prevented  the  plundering  of  his  house 
by  the  use  of  wine  and  kind   words.      The   Oberlanders 


66  THE    LIFE   OF    ULRIC    ZWINQLI. 

{i.e.  those  from  tlie  uplands)  also  had  come  as  far  as 
Wabern,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  city,  where  messen- 
gers from  the  Ilasli  valley  pacified  them.  The  Mayor 
of  Wattenwyl  ordered  the  gates  to  be  closed  and  the 
alarm  bell  to  be  rung. .  The  insurrection  subsided 
here,  but  in  other  places  it  again  broke  out.  In  the 
Cantons  Luzerne  and  Solothurn  it  continued  an  entire 
year,  and  demanded  many  victims.  Foreign  and  domes- 
tic traitors  alarmed  the  country  and  disturbed  the  nation- 
al prosperity.  Critical  junctures  and  popular  circum- 
stances of  this  sort  called  loudly  for  a  man  who,  by  his 
trust  in  God,  by  his  courage  and  perseverance,  was 
qualified  to  guide  country  and  people,  State  and  Church, 
into  a  new  path.  This  man,  by  the  providence  of  God, 
was  given  to  Switzerland,  and  with  it  to  all  Christendom. 
And  although,  after  leaving  Einsiedeln,  he  was  permitted 
to  labor  but  thirteen  years  as  the  distinguished  Eeformer 
of  his  Fatherland,  yet  the  condition  of  the  people  and 
times  shed  a  clear  light  upon  his  reformatory  efi^orts, 
both  civil  and.  religious,  so  that  his  work  in  the  Swiss 
Reformation  appears  to  have  been  truly  marvellous  and 
divine. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 


lUIET     BEGINNIN  Cr  S. 


In  connection  witli  the  discords  previously  noticed, 
caused  by  papal  and  Frencli  intrigues,  there  was  a  griev- 
ous disintegration  in  the  clerical  rank.  At  one  time, 
shortly  before  1516,  when  all  the  deans  of  the  Swiss 
rural  chapter  were  assembled,  scarcely  three  could  be 
found  among  them  who  were  versed  in  the  Bible.  The 
rest  frankly  admitted  that  they  had  not  even  read  the 
whole  of  the  Kew  Testament.  From  this  we  can  infer 
the  character  of  the  remaining  priesthood.  It  was  in  a 
still  worse  condition.  Of  study  there  was  nothing  said. 
Playing  and  feasting  were  tlieir  principal  employments. 
He  who  outwardly  appeared  to  be  more  earnest  was 
guilty  of  hypocrisy.  Scholastic  theology  and  papal  law 
were  perhaps  read  by  a  few.  The  greater  part  I'cad  only 
the  Sermoiogos  or  spiritual  Talkers,  memorized  the 
printed  or  written  sermons  of  the  monks,  and  rehearsed 
them  to  the  people.  Others,  who  were  considered  dis- 
tinguished preachers,  mingled  their  theology  with  that 
of  Aristotle,  and  preached  from  Thomas  Aquinas,  the 
celebrated  preacher  of  the  Dominican  order  in  the  fif- 
teenth century,  who  was  called  Doctor  Angelicus. 

The  bishops  did  not  concern  themselves  about  the 
morals  and  studies  of  the  common  jn-iests.  They  wore 
better  pleased  if  priests  and  people  were  often  i:)unish- 
able,  because  that  increased  their  revenues.  They  were 
concerned  onlv  to  collect  their  contributions  from  the 


68  THE    LIFE   or    ULHIC    ZWINGLT. 

lower  clergy,  and  if  possible  increase  tlieni.  It  is  truG 
the  Confederates  and  tlieir  priests  often  opposed  tlicso 
usurpations  of  the  bishops,  bat  in  vain.  When  the 
Confederates  curbed  the  immorality  of  the  higher  and 
lower  clergy,  the  Pope,  because  he  wished  neither  to 
renounce  his  supremacy  as  chief  shepherd  nor  lose  the 
friendship  of  the  Swiss,  granted,  in  the  year  1522,  the 
demanded  power  to  punish  clerical  as  well  as  lay  crimi- 
nals by  civil  authority.  Scarcely  three  weeks  after  the 
arrival  of  the  papal  permission  and  its  publication  in 
Baden,  the  people  of  Berne  beheaded  a  criminal  belong- 
ing to  the  priests,  named  S chuff elhauser.  This  public 
punishment  of  the  hitherto  unrebuked  vices  of  the 
priests  gave  those  Swiss  who  differed  from  the  Romish 
Church  in  articles  of  faith,  the  strong  hope  of  a  speedy 
change,  and  aroused  their  courage  to  overthrow  the 
hated  priesthood  at  an  early  day.  Among  these,  the 
people  of  Züi'ich  were  not  the  last.  The  vicar-general 
Faber,  in  a  letter  written  to  a  friend,  colls  them  a  people 
who  will  not  allow  themselves  to  be  trifled  with.  Faber 
had  experienced  this.  The  canons,  in  common  with  the 
Council,  in  the  Christian  order  which  they  adopted 
September  29th,  1523,  openly  acknowledged  :  "  They 
felt  and  found  that  tlie  common  man,  rich  and  poor, 
Avho  supported  the  clergy  with  his  bitter  toil,  with  rent- 
als and  tithes,  Avas  not  pleased,  but  greatly  displeased  by 
the  abuses."  And  further  on  :  "  When  all  kinds  of 
disturbances  arose,  and  the  common  man  complained  of 
being  overburdened  by  the  priests  with  tithes,  fees,  and 
other  charges,  the  Provost  and  Chapter  resolved  to 
release  their  fellow  church-members  from  these  griev- 
ances. The  press  also  rose  up  against  this  disorder.  In 
the  city  library  of  Zürich  there  may  still  be  foimd  a 
wood  engraving,  in  which  Moses,  Paul,   Peter,  and  the 


QUIET    BEGIIS'NINGS.  69 

four  Evangcliöts  are  represented  as  hunters,  who  chase 
into  a  net  different  animals,  clothed  in  mitres  and  sheep- 
skins. Among  these  sits  Isaiah.  This  is  the  inscrip- 
tion : 

"  That  there  is  so  much  treachery  in  the  land, 

Is  owing  to  the  wolves  in  clerical  dress. 

And  the  sheep  also  run  wild  ; 

Therefore  follows  u  divine  punishment." 

The  prosperous  printing-press  in  Switzerland  now 
began  to  work  for  the  good  cause,  and  by  colporteurs 
vigorously  spread  its  publications  abroad.  In  1519, 
Christopher  Froschauer,  a  Bavarian,  appeared  in  Zürich 
and  founded  a  publication  house  whicli  afterward 
printed  all  the  M^ri tings  of  the  Swiss  reformers.  The 
same  was  done  in  Basel,  and  later  in  Geneva.  With  in- 
credible rapidity,  Zwingli's  writings,  and  therewith  the 
Reformed  doctrine,  appeared  in  Italy,  France,  Spain, 
Southern  Germany,  even  in  Saxony  and  England.  The 
people  everywhere  eagerly  bought  and  read  them — a 
proof  that  the  reformation  of  the  Church  was  not  the 
work  of  several  men,  but  that  the  people  desired  it. 
Without  this,  our  fathers  would  have  preached  in  vain, 
and  the  publishers  could  not  have  scattered  the  writings 
of  the  Heformation  so  successfully. 

Certainly  there  must  have  been  men  in  Switzerland 
who,  by  education  and  good  character,  were  competent  to 
maintain  the  light  of  illutuination,  to  lead  the  people, 
and  procure  for  its  dissatisfaction  a  hearing.  Wlien 
Providence  has  determined  to  confer  upon  the  world  a 
benefit,  the  incidental  circumstances  are  found  as 
though  they  had  been  prepared.  Rome  had  boasted 
that  Switzerland  had  no  man  who  could  resist  her.  But 
Switzerland's  Romish  enemies  soon  and  very  disagree- 
ably discovered  that  it  ensnared  itself  in  its  i)reconceived 


70  THE   LIFE    OF   I'LRIU    ZWINGLT. 

opinion.  Switzerland  had  excellent  men  who  in  quiet 
seclusion  received  their  first  culture,  whom  God  trained 
Tip  and  then  called  to  appear  in  public.  Besides  Ulric 
Zwingli,  who,  on  account  of  his  learning,  had  as  a  mere 
jouth  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  the 
following  a2:>pear  to  advantage  :  Henry  Loristi  or  Glarean, 
four  years  younger  than  Zwingli  ;  Michael  Kubellus  ; 
John  Zimmermann,  canon  of  the  Chapter  of  Leodoga- 
rius  at  Luzerne  and  at  Munster,  in  Argau  ;  Rudolph 
Collin  or  Am  Bruelil,  of  Grundellingen,  in  the  Canton  of 
Luzerne;  Oswald  Myconius,  four  years  younger,  also  from 
Luzerne  ;  John  Mueller,  of  Tlslhkon,  Canton  of  Zürich, 
near  Greifensee  ;  Jacob  Wiesend  anger  ;  Melchior  Mak- 
rinus,  of  Solothurn  ;  George  Staehli,  of  Golganen,  Can- 
ton of  Scliwyz  ;  Werner  Steiner,  of  Zug  ;  Henry  Luetti, 
of  Wadenschwyl,  Canton  of  Zürich  ;  Benedict  Burgauer  ; 
John  Dorfmann,  who  labored  especially  in  Hh^tia ; 
Erasmus  Schmid,  of  Stein  on  the  Rhine ;  Sebastian 
Wagner,  of  Schaffhausen  ;  John  Haller,  of  Wyl,  in 
Canton  Thurgau. 

Foreign  young  men  immediately  united  with  these 
Swiss,  who  co-operated  in  the  work  of  the  Swiss  Refor- 
mation. Among  the  many,  only  the  following  are  enu- 
merated :  John  Oekolampadius,  of  Weinsberg,  in  France  ; 
W.  F.  Capito,  of  Hagenau,  Alsace  ;  Casper  Hedio,  of 
Ettlingen,  in  Baden  ;  Conrad  Pellican,  of  Alsace  ;  Leo 
Juda  ;  Sebastian  Muenster,  of  Ingelheim,  in  the  Palatin- 
ate ;  Simon  Grynaus,  of  A'^ehringen,  in  the  Palatinate  ; 
Martin  Keller,  of  Stuttgart ;  Beat  Rhemaus,  of  Schlett- 
stadt ;  Ambrose  Blarer,  of  Constance  ;  Berthold  Haller, 
of  Aldingen,  in  the  Province  of  Rothweel  ;  Sebastian 
Meier,  of  Neuenburg  ;  William  Farrell,  of  Gap,  France. 

To  add  more  and  equally  prominent  names  to  these 
Swiss  and  foreign  ones   is  unnecessary,  because  those 


QUIET    BEGINNINGS.  71 

already  mentioned  abnndantly  prove  that  a  general  de- 
sire for  a  better  state  of  affairs  had  arisen  in  eastern  and 
northern  Switzerland  and  in  the  adjoining  French  and 
German  provinces,  which  could  not  possibly  fail  to  pro- 
duce great  consequences.  That  western  and  southern 
Switzerland  took  so  little  interest  in  it  is  owino'  to  the 
fact  that  these  parts  of  the  country  had  no  schools  of  a 
high  grade,  like  the  universities  at  Basel,  Tübingen, 
Freiberg  in  Breisgau,  and  Heidelberg,  and  did  not  stand 
in  connection  with  them,  like  Zürich,  which  became  the 
focus  of  the  Reformation  in  Switzerland,  because  here 
for  years  a  greater  freedom  of  thought  had  prepared  the 
people  to  receive  the  truth. 

But  why  did  this  greater  freedom  of  thought  among 
the  people  of  Zürich,  which  they  had  already  manifested 
in  former  times,  produce  hitherto  no  Keformation  ? 
Why  did  this  newly  enkindled  love  for  the  sciences 
arouse  neither  in  Zürich,  nor  in  Basel,  nor  in  any  other 
city  of  Switzerland,  a  man  who  would  undertake  and 
finish  what  thousands  had  long  since  thought,  wished, 
and  foretold  ?  Why  did  all  stop  with  thinking,  wishing, 
and  foretelling  ?  Because  no  one  had  the  spirit,  courage, 
and  firmness  to  begin  and  complete  the  immense  work. 
I^one  of  those  enumerated,  though  they  were  otherwise 
excellent  men,  had  the  power  which  alone  produces  the 
call,  and  the  will  to  live  for  a  great  and  noble  "work. 
This  power  will  not  allow  him  who  is  conscious  of  it  to 
turn  back  in  his  path,  but,  regardless  of  everything, 
helookssimply  to  thegoal,  and  presses  incessantly  toward 
it — and,  though  he  fall  this  side  of  it,  yet  he  closes  his 
eyes  with  the  firm  assurance  that  the  work  can  and  must 
be  completed.  Not  one  of  them  was  calculated  to  stand 
at  the  head  ;  but  as  associates  of  the  num  whose  heart 
and  courage  placed  him  there,  they  were  all  indispensa- 


72  THE    LIFE    OF   CLRIC   ZWINGLT. 

ble.  Without  a  leader  tliey  -would  not  have  com- 
menced, or  being  weary  wonld  have  desisted  ;  without 
them  he  conld  not  have  completed  it.  In  the  Swiss  Ref- 
ormation they  constitute  a  large  circle,  with  Z^wingli  in 
the  centre. 


CHAPTER  X. 


FROM    EINSIEDELN   TO    ZUEICH. 


After  laborino;  two  years  in  Einsiedeln,  Dr.  Ulric 
Zwiiigli  came  to  Ziiricli  December  27th,  1518.  He  was 
immediately  ordered  to  appear  before  the  Provost  and 
Chapter.  After  greeting  them,  lie  stated  that  he  formed 
a  resohition,  and  would  carry  it  out,  not  to  preach  on  the 
Pericopes,  but  explain  the  Gosj^el  of  St.  Matthew  in 
order,  and  in  so  doing  confine  himself  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  not  to  human  doctrines.  Some  of  the 
canons  present  expressed  their  joy  at  this  ;  others  cen- 
sured it  as  an  innovation.  But  Zvvingli  proved  to  them, 
from  the  sermons  of  Augustine  and  Chrysostom,  that 
this  was  the  old  custom,  and  that  the  discourses  on  the 
evangelical  Pericopes  had  been  first  introduced  by  Char- 
lemagne. 

This  satisfied  them  for  the  present.  Before,  how- 
ever, publicly  entering  on  his  ofiice,  he,  on  Friday, 
December  31st,  wrote  to  the  Council  of  Glarus  that  as 
the  time  of  two  years  which  they  had  granted  him  for 
his  return  to  his  pastorate  in  Glarus,  had  now  expired,  he 
would  return  the  offer,  with  thanks  for  their  kind  inten- 
tion, into  the  hands  of  his  lords.  On  that  Friday  he 
also  closed  the  thirty-fifth  year  of  his  life.  Next  morn- 
ing, Saturday,  January  1st,  1519,  he  publicly  entered  on 
his  duties  in  Zürich,  and  preached  a  sermon  in  wln'ch  he 
announced  that  the  next  day,  Sunday,  January  2d,  ho 
would  •  begin  to  «ixplain   the    Gospel   of   St.    Matthew. 


74  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

This  was  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  people — prais- 
ing God  and  referring  to  Clirist  as  the  onlj  source  of  sal- 
vation. 

At  the  same  time  he  admonished  them  to  cultivate 
Christian  love  and  lead  a  godly  life,  to  avoid  super- 
stition in  doctrine  and  public  Trorship,  idleness,  intem- 
perance, pride  of  dress,  and  by  a  true  amendment  of  life 
to  become  worthy  of  the  grace  of  God.  He  also  spoke 
earnestly  against  the  oppression  of  the  poor,  against  war- 
like expeditions,  and  pensions.  He  recommended  to  the 
Council  the  administration  of  justice,  the  care  of  widows 
and  orphans,  the  maintenance  of  Swiss  liberty,  and  that 
they  should  refuse  the  demands  of  foreign  princes. 
This  was  a  good  and  timely  introductory  sermon.  In 
the  most  honorable  light  it  shows  us  the  entire  man, 
who  had  come  to  make  Zürich  great.  This  inaugur^] 
sermon  did  not  please  some  persons,  who  said  that  by 
such  sermons  Zwingli  would  create  great  disturbance  in 
Zürich  ;  others  praised  God  that  He  had  given  them 
such  a  fearless  preacher. 

Two  respected  men— Henry  Rauchli,  the  pre^^ident  and 
treasurer  of  the  Council,  a  diligent  reader  of  the  Bible,  an 
enemy  of  superstition  and  of  the  disorderly  clergy,  who 
once  declared  that  the  most  pious  man  in  attendance  was 
burned  during  a  meeting  of  the  Council  in  Constance  ; 
and  Henry  Fuessii,  the  inspector  of  the  armory,  compiler 
of  a  Confederate  record  which  reaches  to  the  year  1519 — 
Iiad  heretofore  declared  that  they  did  not  wish  to  hear 
another  sermon  from  a  priest.  But  when  they  learned 
Zwingli's  intention,  they  were  anxious  to  hear  him.  Soon 
after  this  introductory  sermon  they  praised  God  and  said, 
"  This  is  a  preacher  of  the  truth,  who  is  not  afraid  to 
epeak — who  will  be  our  Moses  and  lead  us  out  of  Egypt. " 

The  greater  the  crowd  to  hear  Zwingli's  sermons,  and 


FROM   EIN8IEDELX  TO   ZURICH.  :  75 

the  greater  the  approval  which  they  found,  especially 
among  the  common  people,  the  less  did  those  who  were 
originally  dissatisfied  trust  to  express  their  disapproba- 
tion beyond  their  own  circle.  When,  however,  they 
gradually  discovered  that  not  every  one  who  heard 
Zwingli  agreed  with  him,  they  hesitated  no  longer  to 
speak  frankly,  at  least  to  these  people,  and  emboldened 
by  their  approval  to  come  forward  with  complaints  and 
cli arges.  Zwingli  had  expected  this,  and  did  not  allow 
himself  to  be  misled,  while  his  frhends  admonished  him 
to  be  firm,  as  though  he  needed  such  admonitions. 
Scarcely  an  hour  passed  that  was  not  improved  by 
wordly  and  religious  men  to  lay  snares  to  hold  secret 
meetings  and  arouse  enemies  against  the  defender  of 
right  and  truth. 

But  he  came  to  Zürich  with  the  settled  conviction 
that  tribulations  awaited  him  there.  Among  the  monks 
he  found  his  first  and  bitterest  opponents.  Glarean 
wrote  to  Zwingli  from  Paris,  June  7th,  1519  :  "  I 
hear  that  you  have  trouble — I  know  not  of  what  sort 
— with  the  monks  :  persons  of  whom  you  must  be  more 
afraid  than  of  the  poison  of  snakes.  They  can  injure 
you,  and  will  benefit  but  little.  I  am  concerned  for 
you."  Rhenan  wrote  to  him.  May  7th,  1519,  from 
Basel  :  "Our  Simon  told  me  verbally  that  you  still  con- 
tinue to  preach  true  Christianity,  which,  partly  by  open 
wickedness  and  partly  by  seductive  sujDerstition,  was  mis- 
represented in  the  most  unworthy  manner,  not  only  here, 
but  in  all  places.  Notwithstanding  that  some  oppose — 
because  the  good  always  excites  envy — still  hitherto 
nothing-  could  move  you  to  lose  sight  of  the  goal 
toward  which  you  incessantly  press.  I  admire  your  de- 
termination, which  presents  to  us  a  man  of  the  times  of 
the  apostles.     Some  contradict,  ridicule,   threaten,  and 


76  THE    LIFlS    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

slp.nder  you  ;  but  you  bear  all  ^Tith  true  Christian 
composure.  Continue,  dear  Zwingli,  to  pursue  a  right 
course  ;  he  who  would  win  corrupt  men  for  Christ  must 
allow  a  great  deal  to  pass  unnoticed.  Our  Lord  also 
drew  the  Jews  to  Himself  by  blessings,  not  by  re- 
proaches." "I  praise  you,"  he  wrote  on  the  2ith  of 
the  same  month,  "that  you  have  commenced  such  a 
good  work  with  prudence  ;  but  you  deserve  still  more 
praise  that  you  proceed  steadily,  and  do  not  allow  your- 
self to  be  detained  a  moment  by  those  who  are  grieved 
that  piety  revives  again,  and  that  the  pure  doctrine  of 
Jesus  is  preached  to  the  people." 

These  good  testimonies  show  how  earnestly  Zwingli 
labored  to  lead  souls  to  Jesus,  and  be  for  every  one  what 
he  needed,  and  thus  strengthen  a  later  declaration  :  "  In 
the  storms  of  winter  no  field  is  ploughed  or  sowed. 
Spring  is  the  proper  time.  In  the  beginning  I  made 
great  concessions  to  the  weak  ;  nevertheless  all  1  pro- 
claimed and  all  1  withheld  was  done  unto  edification.  I 
did  not  wish  to  impart  strong  food  at  the  wi'ong  time,  nor 
cast  pearls  before  swine.  I  plainly  proclaimed  and  stead- 
fastly taught  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  tnie  salvation,  and 
that  we  must  expect  all  from  Him,  and  look  to  Him  in 
time  of  trouble.  I  announced  to  men  the  kindly  grace  of 
God,  and  made  it  lovely  for  them,  since  I  knevv'  what 
God  will  accomplish  by  His  word.  Many  who  in  the 
beginning  were  opposed  to  me,  thereby  gradually  dis- 
covered how  good  the  Lord  is,  and  that  every  one  who 
rightly  leams  to  know  Him  can  exclaim  with  the  dis- 
ciples :  '  Lord,  to  whom  shall  we  go  ?  Thou  hast  the 
words  of  life  !  1  have  apprehended  thee,  I  will  never 
more  leave  thee.'  " 

After  Zwingli,  according  to  his  previous  announce- 
ment, had  explained  St.  Matthew's  Gospel  and  acquaint- 


FUOM    EINSIEDELN   TO    ZUltlCH.  77 

ed  his  hearers  with  tlie  doctrine,  works,  and  life  of 
Jesus,  ho  showed  them,  from  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
how  Christianity  was  planted.  Afterward  he  taught 
tliem,  from  the  first  Epistle  to  Timothy,  their  duties  ; 
from  the  Epistle  to  the  Galatians,  the  pure,  genuine  faith 
of  the  early  Christians  ;  from  the  Second  Epistle  to 
Timothy,  the  duty  of  Christian  ministers  to  resist  false 
doctrines,  to  preserve  and  extend  the  Gospel  in  its  pu- 
rity. Inasmuch,  however,  as  some  of  his  op2)onent8 
highly  exalted  Peter  above  Paul,  and  contended  against 
the  worthiness  of  Paul  with  all  kinds  of  sophisms,  he 
proved,  from  the  Epistles  of  Peter,  their  mutual  agree- 
ment ;  and  finally,  from  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews, 
that  Christ,  by  the  sacrifice  of  His  life,  had  rendered  all 
other  sacrifices  superfluous  and  abolished  them.  He 
finished  the  exposition  of  these  books  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment in  the  sermons  he  preached  on  the  Sundays  of  the 
first  four  years. 

Besides  this,  he  began,  in  December,  1520,  to 
explain  the  Psalms  to  the  farmers  who  attended  the 
weekly  market  in  the  city  on  Fridays,  and  j^repared 
himself  for  this  by  diligently  studying  the  Hebrew 
language.  He  was  of  the  opinion  that  a  fundamental 
knowledge  of  the  Christian  doctrines,  derived  from  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  must  precede  the  removal  of  abuses  in 
religion,  then  they  would  disappear  of  their  own  accord  ; 
and  the  result  unexpectedly  showed  that  he  had  not  been 
deceived  in  tiiis  expectation.  The  simple  and  yet  earnest 
manner  in  which  Zwingli  was  accustomed  to  explain  the 
Word  of  God  appears  instructively  from  the  following 
lines  taken  from  a  sermon  in  the  year  1519  :  "  If  we 
consider  all  men,  we  will  certainly  find  that  in  the  whole 
multitude  no  one  is  so  completely  righteous  that  he  could 
satisfy  the  justice  of  God  in  Himself.     Since  we  are  all 


78  THE    LIFE   OF   ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

affected  by  tlie  same  infirmities  and  the  same  disease,  we 
can  never  satisfy  God,  because  we  are  all  debtors  and 
criminals,  and  tlierefore  punishable.  Out  of  the  depths 
of  His  wisdom  God  regarded  onr  misery  and  determined 
to  repair  our  loss.  When  He  found  none  among  us  who 
could  satisfy  His  justice  for  Himself  and  others,  He  or- 
dained His  Son  to  be  a  propitiation  for  our  sins,  that  He, 
since  He  is  true  man  and  our  brother,  may  be  our  right- 
eousness, and  the  procuring  cause  of  our  pardon  before 
God  forever  ;  because  He,  being  just,  took  upon  Him  all 
our  guilt  and  expiated  it  before  God.  Behold,  what  a 
merciful  act  of  God — a  friendly,  joyful  message — a  sure 
guidance  of  the  disconsolate  soul,  that  it  has  found  Him 
by  whom  it  was  reconciled  to  God,  by  whom  it  could  at 
all  times  have  access  to  God. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

GEEAT    EEPUTATIOJ^   IN    SWITZERLAND    AND    ABROAD. 

Hitherto  Zwingli  liad  not  openly  assailed  the  Pope. 
But  the  certain  prospect  that  Berhard  Sampson  would 
soon  come  to  Zürich  with  his  indulgences,  compelled  him, 
after  he  had  entered  upon  his  office,  earnestly  to  warn 
the  people  of  the  city  from  the  pulpit,  and  to  show 
them  that  salvation  was  obtained  for  us  by  the  death  of 
Christ,  and  that  faith  in  Him,  not  money,  is  the  means 
to  obtain  it.  Sampson  had  gathered  great  treasures  in 
Berne.  Poor  and  rich  crowded  around  him.  The 
former  bought  the  cheaper  indulgences  on  paper  for  two 
"  batzen"  (about  twenty  cents),  the  latter  the  dearer,  on 
parchment,  for  a  "  crown"  (about  five  dollars).  An  in- 
dulgence for  a  whole  city  and  district  was  sold  still 
dearer.  Jacob  von  Stein,  Lord  of  Belp  and  Utzingeu, 
who  was  captain  of  a  company  of  500  men  in  the  pa,pal 
service,  bought  with  a  dapple-gray  stallion  full  forgive- 
ness of  sins  for  himself  and  his  ancestors,  for  his  sol- 
diers, and  for  the  people  under  his  authority  at  Belp. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Aarberg,  who  for  several 
years  had  suffered  losses  by  fire  and  water,  and  who 
ascribed  them  to  the  anathema  of  a  papal  messenger, 
whom  tliey  had  insulted,  obtained  through  the  mediation 
of  the  government,  for  cash,  absolution  for  the  dead  and 
the  living,  which,  however,  did  not  produce  the  desired 
effect. 

On  the  way  to  Zürich,  Sampson  had  reached  Lenz- 


8Q  THE    LIFE    OF    ULKIC    ZWIXGLI. 

burg,  but  was  not  received,  and  bastened  on  to  Baden. 
Tbat  be  migbt  not  also  be  repulsed  bere,  be  boasted  to 
tbe  resident  clergyman  of  tbe  bonors  wbicb  be  bad 
received  from  tbe  antborities  at  Baden,  at  Luzerne,  at 
Berne,  and  at  otber  places.  Tbis  so  moved  tbe  good 
man  tbat,  contrary  to  tbe  command  of  tbe  bisbop,  be 
allowed  tbe  monk  to  sell  tbe  indulgences.  Sampson,  by 
tbe  audacity  witli  wbieb  be  promised  tbe  foolisb  people 
tbe  deliverance  of  souls  from  purgatory,  gave  occasion 
for  a  jest,  M-liicb  was  calculated  to  rob  tbe  indulgences 
of  tbeir  credit.  He  exposed  bis  wares  in  tbe  cburcb- 
yard,  exclaiming,  witli  tbe  sale  of  every  piece  of  paper, 
Ecce  volant  !  (See  bow  tbe  souls  fly  !).  A  wag  wbo  was 
present  bastened  into  tbe  cburcb  steeple,  and  tbrougb  a 
window  in  tbe  belfry  emptied  tbe  f eatbers  out  of  a  pillow 
upon  tbe  people,  exclaiming  likewise,  l^cce  volant  I  Ecoe 
volant !  Sampson  took  tbis  jest,  w^bicb  created  great 
laugbter,  very  niucb  amiss,  and  came  near  avenging  it. 
From  bere  be  went  to  Bremgai'ten,  But  Henry  Bul- 
linger,  tbe  pastor  and  dean,  resisted  bim  courageously. 
"  And  sbould  it  cost  me  my  life,  1  will  not  open  my 
cburcb  for  you, "  was  Bullinger's  answer.  In  tbe  most 
violent  passion  tbe  monk  called  bim  a  brute,  placed  bim 
tinder  tbe  beaviest  ban  and  swoBe  not  to  release  bim 
again  till  be  paid  tbree  bundred  ducats  for  bis  unbeard- 
of  impudence  in  refusing  to  allow  tbe  sale  of  indul- 
gences. BuUinger  received  tbe  auatbema  very  coolly. 
Sampson,  bowever,  took  tbe  matter  more  seriously,  "  I 
wnll  soon  get  to  Ziiricb,  you  insolent  brute,"  cried  tbe 
monk  to  Bullinger,  ''  and  will  accuse  you  before  tbe 
Confederates.  Sucli  an  insult  was  nowbere  offered  to 
me  in  all  Switzerland."  Tbe  dean  rejjlied  :  "  I  can  ajD- 
pear  before  tbe  Confederates  as  well  as  you,  and  will 
certainly  not  remain  away. " 


REPUTATION   IN"   SWITZERLAND   AND   ABROAD.  81 

The  reputation  of  Zwingli  meanwhile  continually  in- 
creased. His  sermons  had  already  accomplished  so 
much  that  the  people  everywhere  began  to  see  the 
Eomish  knavery  practised  with  these  indulgences.  "With 
hearty  thanks  to  God,  he  was  allowed  to  see  and  hear 
how  the  work  of  the  Lord  prospered  in  his  hands.  His 
sermons  touched  tlie  people  in  city  and  country.  His 
name  resounded  far  and  wide.  He  laid  great  stress  upon 
pastoral  w"ork.  That  great  multitudes  heard  his  ser- 
mons did  not  satisfy  him.  He  endeavored,  by  the  help 
of  God,  to  establish  the  assurance  also  in  individuals, 
whenever  he  could  reach  them,  that  the  doctrine  of  the 
cross  was  specially  designed  for  every  one  of  them.  His 
particular  care  appears  from  a  letter  written  to  Myconi- 
us,  at  the  end  of  1519,  in  which  he  says  he  had  already 
more  than  20('0  souls,  who  were  so  far  nourished  and 
strengthened  by  the  milk  of  the  Gospel  that  they  now 
desired  stronger  food,  which  he  with  good  confidence 
could  give  them.  So  much  the  more  courageously  could 
he  proceed  and  expose  the  traffic  in  indulgences,  because 
just  at  that  time,  when  Sampson  was  nearing  Zürich, 
the  deputies  of  the  Bishop  of  Constance,  who  should 
bring  charges  against  Sampson  before  the  Diet,  were 
sojourning  in  the  city. 

At  the  end  of  February  Sampson  arrived  at  Zürich. 
Bullinger  had  preceded  Samj)son,  and  had  already 
entered  complaint  against  him  before  the  Confederate 
Diet.  The  deputies  of  the  bishop,  to  whom  he  related 
the  whole  matter,  and  his  numerous  friends  among  the 
great  men  at  Zürich,  as  well  as  the  delegates  of  the 
remaining  cantons,  supported  him  powerfully. 

The  Council  resolved  to  deny  Sampson  permission 
to  enter  the  city.  Tn  the  suburbs,  where  he  had 
alighted  at  an  inn,  a  messenger  of  the  Diet  handed  him 


82  '  THIS    LIFE    or   ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

the  resolution  of  tlie  CoimciL  Under  the  pretence  tha 
he  had  something  to  saj  to  the  Diet  in  the  name  of  hii 
Lord,  he  was  nevertheless  allowed  to  enter.  He  wai 
compelled  to  remove  the  ban  from  the  dean  (Bullinger 
gratuitonsly,  and  then  allowed  to  depart  in  peace,  afte: 
having  been  strictly  forbidden  to  sell  his  wares.  Full  o: 
indignation,  he  departed  with  the  money  which  he  hac 
liastily  gathered.  The  Pope  himself  was  compelled  t( 
recall  him  to  Rome.  Zwingli's  influence  was  knowi 
oven  in  Rome,  and  previously  had  been  quietly  tolerated, 
It  is  true  Sampson,  even  before  he  had  come  to  Zürich, 
openly  declared  that  Zwingli  would  oppose  him,  but  h( 
(Sampson)  would  shut  his  mouth.  Consequently  i1 
might  have  been  expected  to  see  him  mentioned  in  tin 
papal  index  as  a  deceiver  of  the  people.  But  it  con- 
tained not  even  the  least  reference  to  his  name.  E^d■ 
dently  the  resolutions  of  the  Diet  had  startled  the  Pope. 
He  could  not  as  yet  calculate  upon  the  assistance  of  the 
upper  classes  in  Switzerland,  who,  it  is  true,  soon  united 
with  the  monks  to  suppress  Zwingli  and  his  doctrine,  in 
case  he  should  succeed  with  his  far-reaching  propositions 
of  reform. 

Zwingli's  influence,  which  had  already  been  ac- 
quired, must  have  been  certainly  known  in  Rome, 
since  he  had  the  courage  to  discuss  the  sale  of  indul- 
gences with  the  papal  legate,  Anton  Pucci.  In  vain  the 
legate  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  be  silent  ;  in  vain 
were  the  brilh'ant  promises  he  gave  Zwingli.  He  told 
the  prelate  boldly,  if  he  and  other  superiors  of  the  Pojje 
would  not  do  their  duty,  nothing  should  deter  him  from 
working  with  all  the  strength  which  God  would  grant, 
for  the  removal  of  superstition  and  imposition,  till  light 
should  have  triumphed  over  darkness.  He  also  sent  by 
the  deputies  of  the  Pope  a  letter  to  the  Bishop  of  Con- 


REPüTATIOISr    IN   SWITZERLAND    AND    ABROAD.  83 

stance,  in  which  he  exhorted  him  courageously  to  oppose 
the  impositions  of  the  Pope,  and  assured  him  that  the 
Word  of  God  and  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  would  cer- 
tainly maintain  the  mastery  ;  he  requested  him  to  j>ro- 
cure  for  the  noble  house  of  Laudenberg  the  honor  that 
he  would  be  the  first  among  the  bishops  who  accepted 
and  promoted  the  purified  doctrine  of  Christ.  BuUinger 
says  truthfully  that  Zwingli  did  not  proceed  inconsid- 
erately and  against  good  order,  but  had  properly  warned, 
and  first  tested  every  other  means  before  he  began  in 
full  earnestness. 

These  courageous  stops  increased  the  renown  and 
respect  wdiich  he  had  already  gained  to  such  a  great 
degree  in  Einsiedeln,  and  carried  them  far  beyond 
the  borders  of  Switzerland.  In  Southern  Germany, 
in  Nuremberg,  in  Swabia,  especially  in  Augsburg, 
he  had  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who  were  united  to 
him  ;  even  from  the  interior  of  France  the  preacliers  of 
the  Gospel  turned  to  him  and  asked  for  advice  and  com- 
fort. The  friends  of  the  Reformation  in  Constance 
were  so  devoted  to  him  that  they  regarded  those  in 
Zürich  in  many  respects  as  their  model.  In  Mayence, 
Iledio  remembered  their  old  friendship.  Zwingli  had 
gained  many  friends  there  by  his  writings,  who  eagerly 
read  what  he  published,  and  hoped  that  the  example  of 
the  friends  in  Zürich  would  kindle  the  zeal  of  the  Ger- 
man cities.  After  a  perusal  of  tlie  first  discussion  at 
Zürich,  it  became  evident  to  Iledio  and  many  others 
that  truth  is  invincible,  and  falsehood  weak.  The  de- 
luded, who  will  not  see  the  bright  light  of  the  Gospel, 
deserve  either  pity  or  scorn.  There  arc  also  in  his 
vicinity  people  who  hate  the  Gospel,  because  it  com- 
bats their  passions.  He  encouraged  Zwingli  to  labor  on 
cheerfully,  to  raise  the  standard,  to  preach,   to  conceal 


"84  -  THE    LIFE    OF   ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

nothing.  The  time  has  come  when  the  mask  mnst  be 
pulled  off  from  the  ignorant  and  hypocritical.  The 
lawyer,  Nicholas  Gerbellins,  in  Strasburg,  had  such  great 
confidence  in  Zwingli's  friendship  and  in  the  protection 
of  the  Zürichers,  that  he  commended  to  him  a  perse- 
cuted friend  who  had  renounced  the  Homish  supersti- 
tion and  sought  a  safe  abode,  that  he  might  support 
himself,  wife,  and  children.  Likewise  John  Sapidus  re- 
quested Zwingli  to  receive  a  young  scholar,  whose  love 
for  evangelical  truth  constrained  him  to  leave  the  Order 
of  St.  John.  "Receive  him  in  such  a  manner,"  Sapi- 
dus wrote,  '*  that  he  will  feel  that  he  has  been  recom- 
mended as  a  Christian  by  a  Christian  to  a  Cliristian 
friend." 

Unknown  persons  also  declared  to  Zwingli  their 
great  respect.  Moved  by  his  constantly  increasing 
reputation,  and  very  desirous  speedily  to  obtain  the  ex- 
planation of  the  67  Articles,  Adam  Weiss,  clergyman  at 
Ereilsheim,  in  France,  who  was  very  much  pleased  with 
the  manner  in  which  Zwingli  had  conquered  Faber, 
wrote  :  "  Happy  are  you,  to  live  in  such  a  country  and 
among  such  people."  William Xesenus,  in  "Wittenberg, 
-gives  us  the  best  testimony  of  Zwingli's  great  learning 
and  excellent  character.  Among  those  who  encouraged 
him  to  continue  his  course  boldly  and  confidently,  we 
find  Ins  former  teacher.  Dr.  Wyttenbach,  who  was  pas- 
tor in  Biel  since  1515.  The  favorable  testimonies  of  a 
Capito,  Hedio,  Rhenan,  Glarean,  and  many  others,  are 
generally  known.  Even  in  those  parts  of  Switzerland 
where  he  was  soon  afterward  proscribed  and  execrated 
he  enjoyed,  in  the  first  year  of  his  ministry  in  Zürich,  a 
respectful  confidence.  The  clerk  of  the  court  at  Uri, 
Jost  Schmid,  in  a  letter  written  August,  1519,  thanked 
him  most  heartily  for  the  great  pains  and  labor  and 


REPUTATION   IN   SWITZERLAND    AND    ABROAD.         "85 

earnest   diligence   wliich   he   had    bestowed   upon   him 
years  ago  at  Basel,  and  commended  his  brother  to  him. 

Even  in  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  city  his  public  rep- 
utation asserted  itself.  When  the  Confederates,  after 
the  death  of  the  EmjDcror  Maximilian,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1519,  allowed  themselves  to  be  persuaded  by  the 
Cardinal-bishoj)  of  Sitten,  M.  Schinner,  to  write  in  favor 
of  the  grandson  of  the  deceased,  to  the  Pope,  who 
favored  the  King  of  France,  Charles's  competitor  for 
the  royal  crown,  and  to  the  electors  admonishing  them 
not  to  disgrace  and  bring  into  danger  the  German  nation, 
to  which  also  the  Swiss  belonged,  by  the  election  of  a 
foreign  sovereign,  Zwingli  was  of  the  opinion  that 
Switzerland  should  not  meddle  with  the  election  for  an 
Emperor.  They  should  favor  neither  of  the  two  prin- 
ces, but  care  siuiply  for  their  freedom,  and  not  meddle 
too  much  with  the  empire.  Charles,  the  Spaniard,  was  a 
young  man,  and  might  be  inclined  to  govern  the  Ger- 
mans despotically.  Charles  the  Fifth,  as  Emperor,  would 
only  aim  to  oppress  the  German  nation  and  rob  them  of 
the  divine  word.  He  thought  the  Germans  were  not 
necessitated  to  bring  an  emperor  from  a  distance  and 
burden  themselves  with  foreign  authority.  On  this 
account  he  was  also  opposed  to  the  King  of  France, 
whom  many  wished  to  make  Emperor  of  Germany. 
And  long  after  his  death  the  result  showed  how  correct 
his  judgment  was.  The  people  of  Zürich  resolved 
henceforth  to  resist  foreign  lords,  and  more  and  more 
withdrew  their  support  from  the  Pope.  Zwingli  clearly 
convinced  them  that  the  Pope  did  not  need  their  ai'mies 
to  defend  the  Church  or  the  papal  territory,  but  to 
make  conquests.  It  was  acknowledged  to  be  true,  what 
Zwingli  said  of  the  cardinals,  who  like  plunderers 
bribed  the  people,  bought  them  for  popish  purposes,  and 


86  THB   LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

tten  had  them  slaughtered  in  bloody  conflicts.  *'  The 
cardinals,"  he  said,  "  jnstlj  ^vear  red  hats  and  cloaks; 
if  yon  shake  them,  dncats  fall  out  ;  but  if  you  wring 
them,  the  blood  of  the  sons,  the  brothers,  friends,  and 
fathers  runs  out." 

In  Schwyz  the  great  respect  which  Zwingli  everywhere 
enjoyed  asserted  itself  in  the  most  honorable  manner  in 
the  resolution  of  the  National  Assembly,  by  which  the 
canton  for  twenty- five  years  abstained  from  all  foreign 
leagues  and  pensions.  lie  was  not  less  concerned  for  the 
deliverance  of  the  Swiss  from  foreign  military  sei-vice, 
than  the  deliverance  of  the  Chiu'ch  from  the  yoke  of  the 
Pope,  becciuse,  according  to  his  conviction,  the  salvation 
of  the  Fatherland  depended  lipon  these  two  things. 
On  the  21st  of  May,  1522,  he  sent  the  authorities  of 
Canton  Schwyz  a  letter,  with  the  urgent  request  to 
beware  of  the  foreign  lords,  and  finally  to  free  them- 
selves from  all  obligations  to  them.  In  his  writing 
which  precedes  tliis  exhortation,  Zwingli  says  :  the  great 
love  wliich  he  had  for  them  from  childhood  compelled 
him  to  take  this  step,  particularly  since  he,  as  a  son  of 
Toggenburg,  was  in  duty  bound  to  be  attentive  to  them. 
He  reminded  them  in  the  exhortation,  that  their  fore- 
fathers had  carried  on  war  only  for  freedom,  and  not 
killed  Christians  for  wages.  Therefore  God  gave  them 
the  \ictory  at  Morgarten  1315,  at  Laupen  1339,  at 
Sempach  13S6,  at  Xafels  1388,  and  at  other  places. 
Afterward  they  became  arrogant  and  allowed  them- 
selves to  be  deluded  by  the  gold  and  flatteries  of  princes, 
to  do  and  to  care  more  for  them  than  for  home,  wife, 
and  children.  They  were  misled  by  people  who  were 
concerned  more  for  their  possessions  than  for  their 
Fatherland.  But  the  greatest  loss  and  the  greatest  dan- 
gers  fell   upon   the    public   estate.     These   dangers   he 


REPUTATION  11^  SWITZEELAHD  AND  ABROAD.         87 

describes  in  detail,  and  enumerates  among  them  the 
divine  punishments  with  which  the  avarice  and  the  in- 
humanity of  the  warrior  are  threatened  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  (Micah  2,  Isa.  5,  Matt.  18,  Ezek.  29, 
Jer.  51).  Furthermore,  the  prevalence  of  injustice 
and  deeds  of  violence,  love  of  pomp  and  banqueting,  of 
immorality  and  effeminacy,  of  envy  and  unfaithfulness 
toward  the  Fatherland  finally  ;  the  danger  of  losing  free- 
dom either  by  enemies  or  friends  among  the  foreign 
princes.  In  the  same  way  he  controverts  what  was  said 
in  favor  of  foreign  military  service,  and  gives  them  a 
solemn  description  of  the  calamities  of  war,  and  puts  the 
question  of  conscience  to  the  Confederates  :  what  we 
would  say  if  a  foreign  people  rioted  among  us,  like  the 
Swiss  did  in  the  enemy's  country.  The  great  loss  which 
the  Confederates,  especially  the  Canton  of  Schwyz,  had 
suffered  in  the  battle  of  Bicocca,  impelled  the  great 
benefactor  of  the  Fatherland  to  compose  this  letter. 
This  noble  deed  bore  immediate  fruit. 


CHAPTER  XIL 

DANGEEOUS     ILLNESS. 

In  tlie  summer  of  1519  a  pla^-ue  broke  out  in  Zürich, 
of  whicli  2500  j)ersoiis  died  in  less  than  six  months. 
Zwingli  escaped  in  the  beginning,  though  he  daijy  visit- 
ed those  who  were  sick  with  the  plague.  Conrad  Brun- 
ner,  a  friend,  wrote  to  him  from  Basel  in  September  : 
"  However  laudable  his  fidelity  to  his  office  mi«rht  be, 
he  should  not  forget  that  he  must  also  take  care  of  his 
ownhfe."  Alas,  this  warning  came  too  late.  Zwingli 
took  sick  in  September,  and  was  brought  to  the  verge  of 
the  grave.  Dr.  Iledio,  of  Basel,  wrote  to  liim  '  "  We 
were  very  sorrowful  when  that  murderous  pestilence 
seized  you,  for  who  would  not  mourn  when  the  pros- 
perity of  his  Fatherland  sinks  down,  when  the  trumpet 
of  the  Gospel,  the  courageous  proclaim.er  of  the  tnith  in 
the  most  flourishing,  yea,  the  most  hopeful  age,  is 
silenced?"  The  danger  which  threatened  his  life  was 
so  great  that  all  hope  was  relinquished,  and  the  report  of 
his  death  spread  in  Switzerland  and  Germany.  The 
monks  rejoiced  that  the  devil  had  fetched  the  heretic  ; 
yet  tlieir  rejoicing  was  soon  silenced. 

During  his  sickness  he  composed  three  hymns,  which 
are  an  evidence  of  his  sincere  piety,  his  childlike  conii- 
dence,  that,  even  if  he  should  die,  God  would  not  iet  the 
work  perish  which  he  had  commenced,  aud  of  humble 
submission  to  His  will.  The  language  of  his  heart  is  ex- 
cellent.    Bullinger  has  preserved  them  in  the  history  of 


DANGEKOÜS   ILLKESS. 


89 


the  Keforniation.  In  the  tiret  hjran,  which  he  com- 
posed in  the  beginning  of  his  sickness,  he  asks  God  for 
His  dehvcrance,  if  it  be  His  will  ;  if,  however,  He 
would  let  him  die  in  the  middle  of  life,  he  was  resigned  ; 
he  was  His  creature,  whom  He  could  preserve  or  de- 
stroy^ The  second  hymn  he  wrote  in  the  middle  of  his 
sickness,  when  it  was  most  violent.  The  third  hymn  he 
wrote  when  he  was  convalescent.  He  rejoiced  that  he 
woul  J.  hereafter  be  able  to  labor  in  the  service  of  Qoä. 


BEGINNING.* 

Lo  !  at  my  door 
Gaunt  death  I  spy 

Eear,  Lord  of  life, 
Thy  creature's  cry. 

The  arm  that  hnng 
Upon  the  tree, 

Jesus,  ujjlift, 
And  rescue  me. 

Yet,  if  to  quench 
My  sun  at  noon 

Be  Thy  behest, 
Thy  will  bo  done  ! 

In  faith  and  hope, 
Earth  I  resign, 

Secure  of  heaven, 
For  I  am  Thine. 


Fierce  grow  my  pains  ; 

Help,  Lord,  in  haste  ! 
For  flesh  and  heart 

Are  failing  fast. 

Clouds  wrap  my  sight, 
My  tongue  is  dumb  ; 

Lord,  tarry  not, 
The  hour  is  come  ! 


In  Satan's  grasp. 

On  hell's  dark  brink, 
My  spirit  reels  : 

Ah  !  must  I  sink  ? 

No,  Jesus,  no  1 

Him  I  defj^, 
While  here  beneath 

Thy  cross  I  lie. 


My  father,  God, 
Behold  me  whole  ! 

Again  on  earth, 
A  living  soul ! 

Let  sin  no  more 
My  breast  aunov, 

But  till  it.  Lord, 
With  holy  joy. 

Though  now  delayed, 
My  hour  must  come, 

Involved,  perchance, 
In  deeper  gloom. 

It  matters  not  : 

Rejoicing  yet, 
I'll  bear  my  yoke 

To  heaven's  bright  g£ 


*  From  the  English  translation  of  Merle  D'Aubigne's  "  History  of 
the  Reformation."  The  German  of  Zwingli  has  there  been  followed, 
and  the  original  form  and  spirit  of  the  poems  well  preserved. 


90  THE   LIFE    OF   ULRIC    ZWIKQLI, 

Before  the  breaking  out  of  tlie  plague,  Zwingli  was  at 
the  mountain  ravine,  called  Pfeffer's  baths,  near  his 
home,  and  therefore  familiar  to  him,  where  he  sought  to 
strengthen  himself  for  the  conflict  with  the  plague,  which 
was  advancing  from  the  east.  When  he  heard  that 
the  plague  had  advanced  to  Zürich,  he  hastened  to  his 
post  in  August,  without  calling  to  see  his  relative,  Chris- 
topher, the  Abbot  of  St.  John,  in  Toggenberg,  who  had 
expected  him.  According .  to  the  example  of  the  Good 
Shepherd,  who  givetli  His  life  for  the  sheep,  he,  true  to 
liis  preacliing,  appeared  in  the  midst  of  his  parishioners, 
and  exposed  himself  daily  to  the  danger  of  infection,  by 
fearlessly  visiting  those  sick  of  the  plague  and  bringing 
them  the  consolations  of  the  Gospel.  This  powerful 
man,  who  confided  in  God,  was  allowed  to  do  his  duty 
many  weeks. 

While  the  plague  raged  still  more  frightfully  in 
Zürich,  and  reached  its  highest  stage  of  develop- 
ment about  the  middle  of  September,  his  friends  from 
far  and  near  looked  with  sympathy  and  astonishment 
upon  the  brave  champion  of  God,  warning  and  pleading 
that  He  would  spare  his  precious  life.  Ho  could  and 
would  not  think  of  his  own  preservation,  so  the  plague 
seized  him  too.  Near  unto  death,  he  hfted  his  heart  to 
God,  and  found  comfort  and  peace  in  his  Saviour.  The 
three  hymns  quoted  suffice  to  show  us  a  Christian  fully 
ripe,  enlightened,  and  sustained  by  the  spirit  of  the  Gos- 
pel. He  recovered,  though  very  slowly.  At  the  end  of 
the  year  his  health  was  so  fully  restored  that  on  Decem- 
ber 31st  he  could  write  :  ' '  Yesterday  I  finally  laid  aside 
the  last  plaster  of  the  plague-ulcer."  By  the  grace  of 
God  he  had  been  preserved  from  death  ;  therefore  he  was 
now  the  more  determined  to  risk  his  life  for  the  cause  of 
the  Lord.     He  kept  his  word. 


CHAPTER  XriL 

TWO    HOSTILE    SCHEMES. 

ZwEs^GLi  liad  scarcely  recovered  from  liis  sickness 
when  liis  enemies  began  to  work  against  liim  openly.  A 
monk  journeyed  to  Basel  to  have  four  sermons  printed 
against  him  for  the  suppression  and  refutation  of  the 
new  doctrine.  As  heretofore,  Zwingli  desired  to  carry 
forward  the  work  of  the  Reformation  quietly  and  avoid 
an  utterly  useless  controversy.  Therefore  he  applied  to 
Hedio,  and  requested  him,  in  his  name,  to  entreat  Cardi- 
nal-bishop Sch  inner,  of  Sitten,  who  chanced  to  be  just 
then  at  Basel  with  the  Provost,  Felix  Frei,  that  he 
might  prevent  this  publication.  Upon  the  rej)resenta- 
tions  of  the  provost,  the  cardinal  obtained  the  desired 
interdiction  from  the  bishop  and  Council  at  Basel. 
"  The  cardinal  loves  you,"  Hedio  wrote  to  Zwingli, 
"  and  indeed  honestly,  for  many  reasons,  but  particu- 
larly because  you  preach  the  Gospel,  and  have  the  cour- 
age to  tell  the  truth  to  people  whose  tender  ears  do  not 
like  to  hear  it.  He  remembered  yon  on  this  occasion, 
with  great  praise.  Let  therefore  the  outrageous  con- 
duct of  this  monk  not  disturb  you  ;  proceed  boldly,  heed 
not  this  shameless  fellow  ;  he  himself  has  prepared  the 
rod  which  will  punish  him.  I  know  a  pR,inter  who  will 
depict  this  ravenous  animal  in  lively  colors.  Capito  will 
take  care  at  Strasburg  that  the  press  there  is  not  stained 
with   the  poison   of   his   mouth." 

The  Vicar-general,  Faber,  who  could  not  remain 
ignorant  of  all  this,  still  continued  to  be  Zwingli's  friend. 


d'Z  THE    LIFE    OF    ULKIC   ZWINGLI. 

December  1 8th,  he  declared  to  hnn  in  a  letter  his  gvesA 
joy  for  his  recorery  :  ''I  love  you  80  heartily  and 
honestly  that  no  greater  sorrow  could  befall  me  than 
to  be  obliged  to  hear,  which  may  God  prevent,  a  mis- 
fortune happening  unto  you  ;  and  on  the  other  hand  I 
can  have  no  greater  joy  than  when  I  hear  you  are  well 
and  happy.  I  think  these  sentiments  toward  you  are  in 
accordance  with  justice.  For  you  labor  so  unweariedly 
upon  the  work  of  the  Lord  that  I  am  convinced  the 
cause  of  Christianity  would  suffer  no  small  loss  if  you 
should  get  into  danger." 

From  Luzerne  Myooniiis  wrote,  December  28th, 
1519,  to  Zwingli  :  "  Our  friends  here  say  that  both 
of  us  alone  are  not  able  to  support  the  religion  of 
Christ  ;  we  should  therefore  be  quiet,  because  our  work 
will  be  for  the  most  part  in  vain.  Again,  our  enemies 
say  our  doctrine  is  of  the  devil,  not  of  God."  Zwingli 
answered  him  :  "  You  must  learn  more  and  more  to  re- 
spect yourself,  that  you  do  not  become  excited  by  such 
objections.  How  much  such  displeasure  will  injure 
you,  1  know  from  my  own  experience.  Your  answer 
receives  my  approval.  Still  I  Vv'isli  tliat  these  wilful 
people  might  be  attracted  more  by  kindness  and  yielding 
complaisance  than  carried  away  by  violent  strife.  At 
Zürich  there  are  many  people,  more  than  2000,  to  whom 
indeed  I  still  give  milk,  but  who,  because  they  have  a 
craving  appetite,  can  soon  bear  strong  food.  I  nmst  con- 
tinually contend  with  malicious  men,  iiot  because  my 
character  comes  into  contact  with  theirs,  but  because 
they  are  bent  u|)on  persecuting  Christ  and  the  Gospel. 
I  am  very  much  conceriied  for  the  peace  and  the  Father- 
land, although  my  hope  is  constantly  strengthened  that 
the  present  disorder  will  once  give  place  to  a  far  better 
state  of  affairs." 


TWO    HOSTILE    SCHEMES.  93 

When  the  calculation  of  the  monk  failed,  to  have  a 
refutation  of  the  new  doctrine  which  Zwingli  preached 
printed  in  four  sermons,  liis  opponents  sought  to  ap- 
proach him  from  another  direction.  The  Church 
archives  at  Zürich  contain  an  original  document,  without 
date,  which  in  the  name  of  several  canons  was  handed  to 
Zwingli,  and  in  which  twenty-one  points  were  cen- 
sured, whicli  he  was  said  to  have  taught  from  the  pulpit, 
and  for  which,  he  deserved  a  reprimand.  It  is  composed 
in  true  monkish  Latin,  and  abounds  in  lies  and  misrepre- 
sentations. 

They  charge  him  that  he  suppresses  customs  of 
the  Church,  instituted  for  the  honor  of  God  and  the 
saints  ;  that  he  does  not,  like  his  predecessors  in 
office,  dihgently  exhort  the  people  to  the  payment  of 
tithes  ;  that  he  falsely  affirms  the  festival  of  John,  of 
Paul,  and  of  the  10,000  martyrs,  to  be  an  invention  of 
the  priests  ;  that  he  despises  Corpus  Christi  day,  the  pro- 
cessions on  that  day,  and  changes  of  dress  after  the 
mass  ;  the  indulgences  at  this  festival,  and  the  celebration 
of  the  mass  itself  ;  that,  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  the 
lawyers,  he  affirms  the  Pope,  who  alone  besides  the  em- 
peror is  regarded  as  sovereign,  to  be  no  sovereign. 
Secrets  intrusted  to  him  he  reveals  in  the  pulpit,  dis- 
closing names  ;  therefore  he  must  be  commanded  to  stop 
preaching.  At  the  same  time  Provost  Felix  Frei  sent 
him  a  document  of  similar  import,  only,  as  it  appears, 
more  compreliensive,  and  supported  by  proofs.  It  can 
easily  be  imagined  what  Zwingli  thought  and  felt  while 
reading  these  two  documents.  In  a  letter  to  Myconius, 
February  20th,  1520,  he  says  concerning  them  :  "  The 
Provost  expressed  a  part  of  his  displeasure  against  him, 
and  indeexl  in  writing,  that  it  might  not  be  forgotten, 
by  a  letter,  wherein  he  asserts  tlie  tithes  M-ere  appointed 


:94  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

by  God  for  the  priests,  •wliieh  assertion  Zwingli  publicly 
refuted  in  Latin  ;  he  further  instructs  him  that  it  is  not 
always  best  to  speak  the  truth,  because  he  is  of  the  opin- 
ion that  the  priests  must  not  be  slandered  ;  aftenvard 
he  touches  on  questions  of  law,  and  admonishes  him  not 
to  place  weapons  against  the  clergy  in  the  hands  of  the 
laity.  And  all  this  the  sly  little  man  writes,  he  says,  as 
a  friendly  w^arning.  Since  Utinger,  who  advised  peace, 
could  effect  nothing,  I  went  to  him  and  explained  the 
whole  matter,  and  the  causes  of  my  dissatisfaction,  and 
asked  him  hereafter  ]iot  to  transmit  in  writing  what  he 
could  tell  me  verbally,  particularly  such  weak  reasons, 
which  would  certainly  not  win  me  to  his  side.  These 
were  principally  taken  from  the  paj^al  law,  and  he  had 
so  perverted  the  Holy  Scriptures  that  the  authors  would 
not  have  recognized  them." 

It  was  natural  that  the  papists  began  to  consider  Zwingli 
as  their  enemy,  who  was  in  earnest  about  his  separation 
from  Rome.  Likewise  they  believed  that  they  must 
hinder  their  enemy  in  his  efforts  against  the  Romish 
priesthood,  and  if  necessary,  not  only  oppress  but  render 
him  harmless  forever.  Yet,  considering  the  powerful 
city,  and  Switzerland  in  general,  a  sudden  attack  was 
not  allowable  at  present.  The  calumniation  of  his  per- 
son and  the  new  doctrines  he  preached  was  at  present  all 
that  could  be  done  against  him,  in  part  verbally,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  the  press.  Besides,  they  secretly 
brought  it  to  pass  that  the  Council,  to  a  previous  resolu- 
tion allowing  common  priests  and  preachers  in  city  and 
country  everywhere  to  preach  the  Holy  Gospels  and 
Epistles,  added  a  decree  that  nothing  dare  be  preached 
against  the  monks.  Then  the  Council  had  Zwingli 
brought  into  the  house  of  the  provost,  where  the 
burgomaster,  in  the  presence  of  the  officers  of  the  mon- 


TWO    HOSTILE    SCHEMES.  95 

astery,  commanded  that  hereafter  nothing  should  be 
preaclied  that  would  disturb  the  public  peace.  Never- 
theless Zwingli  arose  and  said  :  "  1  cannot  receive 
this  command  ;  I  will  preach  the  Gospel  free  and  un- 
restrained, as  it  had  been  formerly  resolved."  Then  the 
Council  was  compelled  to  yield,  in  spite  of  the  monks, 
since  it  was  bound  by  its  own  resolution.  So  much 
the  more  did  the  monks  rage,  and  the  monasteries  were 
the  meeting-places  of  all  who  hated  Zwingli  and  the 
Gospel.  Yet  Zwingli  continued  bravely  but  prudently 
on  the  way  of  his  calling  unto  the  end. 


CHAPTER  •  XIV. 


FIKST    FKUITS    OF    HIS    LABOK. 


Since  Zwingli  found  tlie  pastor's  assistants,  who  were 
in  Zürich  at  the  beginning  of  ]iis  ministry,  to  be  very  un- 
skilfnl  persons,  who  refused  to  assist  him,  lie  took  as 
helpers  two  vigilant  young  men,  George  Staeheli  and 
Henry  Lueti.  This  was  a  proof  of  the  zeal  with  which 
he  endeavored  to  promote  the  cause  of  the  Gospel,  of  the 
certainty  with  which  he  strove  constantly  to  press  toward 
the  appointed  goal,  and  of  the  courage  which  filled  his 
soul  for  the  welfare  of  the  Fatherland.  These  two  as- 
sistants he  took  into  his  house  and  to  his  table,  that  he 
could  at  all  times  employ  them  in  the  service  of  the  Gos- 
-pel. 

During  the  first  two  years  he  read  mass ;  and  all 
the  remaining  duties  of  hia  ofiice,  according  to  the  pre- 
vailing custom,  were  incumbent  on  him.  They  assisted 
him  to  perform  the  laborious  duties  of  the  large  parish, 
which  embraced  the  greater  half  of  the  city  and  the  sur- 
rounding villages,  whereby  he  gained  more  time  to  pre- 
pare his  sermons,  which  were  so  indispensably  necessary, 
because  until  the  year  1521  he  was  the  only  preacher  in 
Zürich  and  Switzerland  who  proclaimed  the  pure  doc- 
trine. In  all  his  sermons  he  insisted  that  his  hearers 
should  confine  themselves  entirely  to  the  written  Word 
of  God,  believe  what  accorded  with  it,  and  reject  the  re- 
mainder. He  said  this  with  such  power,  plainness,  ajid 
persuasion  that  the  Council  commanded  the  pastors  of  its 


FIRST  FRUITS   OF  HIS  LABOR.  97 

district  to  preach  from  tlie  ISIew  Testament  in  like 
manner,  and  prove  their  doctrine  only  from  the  Bible, 
but  omit  innovations  and  human  inventions,  Zwingli, 
with  increased  courage,  with  deep  gratitude  toward 
God,  and  with  uninterrupted  faithfulness,  clung  to  the 
hteral  meaning  of  the  resolution.  He  believed  that 
errors  will  disappear  of  their  own  accord,  when  the 
necessary  knowledge  of  the  "Word  of  God  is  attained, 
and  avoided  every  violent  interference.  Such  a  course 
could  produce  only  the  best  results  for  himself,  the 
Church,  and  the  Fatherland,  since  his  conduct  hitherto, 
under  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances,  showed  in 
him  the  man  who  had  come  to  Zürich  for  this  under- 
taking, not  of  his  own  accord,  but  as  sent  by  the  Lord. 
With  this  resolution  of  the  Council,  which  had  been  se- 
cured through  the  influence  of  Zwingli,  Zürich,  upon 
which  the  eyes  of  all  the  Swiss  who  honored  the  Word 
of  God  were  turned,  had  taken  not  only  an  important 
but  the  chief  step  in  the  reconstruction  of  the  Church, 
her  doctrine  and  customs. 

There  was  joy  far  and  wide  on  account  of  this  reso- 
lution of  the  Council,  and  the  rapid,  fearless  progress 
of  Zwingli.  The  example  which  Züi-ich  thereby  gave 
to  the  rest  of  Switzerland  had  a  blessed  effect  even 
beyond  its  borders.  From  Paris  Glarean  wrote,  July 
7th  :  "I  surmise  that  Zürich  will  soon  be  equal  to  many 
a  university  ;  for  this  it  is  indebted  to  you  and  your 
unwearied  industry."  From  Constance,  Sebastian  Hof- 
meister wrote  to  Zwingli,  September  17th:  "I  under- 
stand that  you  continue  to  preach  the  truth.  I  praise 
your  steadfastness  and  incorruptibility.  Would  to  God 
I  could  be  your  assistant,  especially  in  Zürich,  that  when 
that  part  of  our  blessed  Fatherland  will  have  been  healed, 
the    same    good- fortune    may  befall   the    remainder." 


98  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

Scaicely  was  that  far-reaching  order  of  the  Coun- 
cil issued  to  the  preachers  and  common  priests  in 
city  and  country,  when  a  second  resohition  foilovved, 
June  17th,  which  would  have  been  adopted  as  little 
there,  without  Zwiugli's  blessed  influence,  as  at  strange 
places,  where  he  was  not  known.  The  Chapter  of 
Canons  unanimously  resol^,^ed  that  the  old  register  of 
festivals,  completed  in  the  year  12G0  (which,  as  the 
record  says,  on  account  of  the  multitude  of  festival 
and  fast  days  introduced  and  adopted  by  our  ances- 
tors and  ourselves,  could  by  no  means  be  completely  fol- 
lowed), be  exchanged  for  an  improved  one — a  resolu- 
tion which  is  another  glorious  evidence  that  Zwingli 
was  not  rash,  but  sought  only  gradually  to  introduce  the 
desired  improvements.  An  important  step  was  gained, 
since  the  canons  not  only  saw,  but  also  admitted,  that 
by  the  enormous  multitude  of  holidays  an  intolerable 
burden  had  been  imposed  upon  the  people  ;  and  it  was 
still  more  important  that,  without  consulting  the  spiritual 
authorities,  they  took  courage,  on  their  own  responsibil- 
ity, to  lessen  the  burden,  whose  entire  removal  vrould 
have  been  premature. 

Still  it  must  have  been  very  encouraging  to  Zwingli 
that  the  clergy  had  fallen  in  with  his  ideas  ;  among 
whom  Henry  Ulinger  was  the  most  prominent  and 
courageous,  who  also,  in  letters  to  their  mutual  friends, 
praised  Zwingli' s  firmness  and  determination.  Such 
first-fruits  are  so  much  the  more  precious,  since  he  had 
two  parties  as  enemies,  which  attacked  him  with  equal 
zeal — the  pensioners  of  foreign  princes  and  the  higher 
and  lower  clergy,  whose  intentions  became  daily  more 
evident.  Naturally  Zwingli  wished  to  be  surrounded 
by  men  united  to  him  by  equal  courage  and  similar 
sentiments,    who  would   help   him  to  bear  the  burden 


i-IRST  FRUITS   OF  HIS   LABOR.  99 

which  was  constantly  growing  heavier,  and  to  contend 
with  the  daily  accumulating  hindrances,  as  well  as  to 
preserve  what  had  already  been  acquired. 

In  whatever  direction  he  turned  his  eyes,  he  jould 
nowhere  find  a  man  so  fully  qualified  as  his  youth- 
ful friend  and  follower  in  Einsiedeln,  Leo  Juda.  "With- 
out informing  him  of  his  purpose,  he  wroto  to  him 
about  two  years  later,  May  22d,  1522  :  "  Next  Sun- 
day a  monk  of  Riiti  will  read  the  first  mass  at  St. 
Peter's.  It  seems  advisable  that  you  preach  the  ser- 
mon. Therefore  come  to  me  on  Saturday,  that  you  can 
preach  to  the  people  the  following  morning.  This  will 
serve  our  purpose  excellently.  "VVe  must  occasionally 
do  something  that  is  by  no  means  agreeable,  in  order 
afterward  to  reach  what  we  earnestly  desire.  When 
you  come,  Ave  will  have  much  to  talk  about."  Leo 
came,  preached  several  times,  and  pleased  the  congrega- 
tion, which,  according  to  its  unlimited  right  of  election, 
chose  him  as  its  pastor  on  Sunday  before  Whitsuntide. 
What  Zwingli  expected  from  this  new  assistant,  he  says, 
in  a  letter  to  Myconius,  dated  August  26th  :  "  Soon  the 
lion,  with  his  powerful  voice  and  heart  inflamed  for  the 
right,  will  be  here,  who  indeed  is  small  of  stature,  but 
full  of  undaunted  courage." 

About  eight  months  later  Leo  Juda  settled  in  Zürich, 
and  so  fully  met  the  expectations  of  Zwingli  that  a 
large  part  of  the  success  in  the  preservation  and  ex- 
tension of  the  Reformation  may  be  ascribed  to  his 
faithful  zeal  and  constant  activity.  What  Zwingli  en- 
deavored to  secure  for  the  Lord  he  obtained.  The 
fear  of  the  Lord  animated  him,  therefore  the  blessing 
of  the  Lord  followed  him  everywhere.  The  purpose 
of  the  Lord  prospered  in  his  hands.  All  who,  far  and 
near,  longed  for  the    blessings    of  Zürich   looked   and 


100  THE  XIFE   OF    ULRIC    ZWINQLI. 

listened  to  him,  and  received  courage  and  etrengtli, 
counsel  and  consolation  from  him.  Wherever  the  Ref- 
ormation penetrated  after  protracted  conflicts,  or  was 
suppressed  by  the  united  efforts  of  the  2")nests  and  pen- 
sioners, Zwingli  was  regarded  by  friends  and  enemies  as 
the  head  and  principal  supporter  of  the  Reformation. 


1 


CIIAPTEE  XY. 

GREAT    DISCUSSIONS    AT   ZUBICH,  AND    TIIEIE    CONSEQUENCES. 

The  constantly  growing  respect  wliicli  accompanied 
the  reformatory  labors  of  Zwingli  disturbed  the  mul- 
titude of  rude  monks.  They  sought  that  they  might 
find.  But  when  Zwingli,  in  a  sermon  on  1  Tim.  4  :  1-5, 
proved  that  the  Lenten  rules,  as  they  were  prescrib- 
ed by  the  Church,  had  no  foundation  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  some  without  consulting  Zwingli  ate 
meat  during  Lent,  1522,  the  monks  thought  they  had  at 
last  found  the  long-sought-for  opportunity  to  destroy 
Zwingli's  influence.  Zwingli's  sermon  on  the  institu- 
tions of  men  and  the  eating  of  meat  were  reported  to 
the  bishop  at  Constance,  who  thereupon  sent  three  am- 
bassadors to  the  Council  of  Zürich.  Zwingli's  enemies 
rejoiced  greatly  when  they  arrived,  and  many  friends  of 
the  courageous  witness  were  apprehensive. 

The  Council  recei  ved  the  embassy  with  great  solemnity. 
Only  with  difficulty  did  the  citizens  of  Zürich  succeed  in 
obtaining  permission  that  Zwingli  v/ith  two  colleagues 
might  be  present  during  the  proceedings.  Tho  suifragan 
bishop  stated  his  charges  in  general  terms,  without 
naming  Zwingli,  and  wished  to  depart  immediately.  But 
Zwingli  compelled  him  to  listen  to  his  defence,  and 
proved  clearly  from  the  authority  of  the  Holy  Script- 
ures that  there  was  no  Divine  law  to  bo  honored  in  tho 
Lenten  rules,  that  the  relinquishing  of  this  statute  was 
absolutely  no  rebellion  against  the  government,  as  the 


103  THE    LIFE    OP    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

bishop  had  asserted,  and  that  Zürich,  since  the  adoption  of 
the  new  doctrine,  was  the  most  peaceable  city  in  Switz- 
erland. "  I  am  also  justly  astonished,"  said  Zwingh, 
"  that  though  I  have  been  a  preacher  in  the  Diocese  of 
Constance  for  sixteen  years,  the  bishop  never  sent  an 
embassy  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  faith  and  godli- 
ness in  my  congregations.  But  when  the  external  order 
is  violated  only  a  trifle,  they  üil  the  world  vvuth  charges 
and  cries  that  Zürich  has  departed  from  the  Church  of 
the  faithful." 

In  conclusion,  he  declared  he  did  not  wish  fasting 
to  be  forbidden,  but  eating  to  be  allowed  ;  if  any  one 
really  fasted  in  faith,  he  would  rather  that  such  a 
one  do  it  during  the  whole  year  than  not  at  all.  This 
bold  language  and  fearless  bearing  of  the  faithful  witness 
impressed  the  embassy  of  the  Bishop  of  Constance  so 
powerfully  that  it  silently  withdrew.  Wanner,  the 
cathedral  preacher,  one  of  the  three  sent  by  the  bishop, 
was  so  convinced  of  the  truth  that  he  afteru^ard  became 
a  true  servant  of  the  Gospel.  Concerning  these  three 
ambassadors,  Zwingli,  at  the  end  of  May,  wrote  as  follows 
to  Myconius  :  "  The  bishop  sent  his  substitute,  Mel- 
chior Yattli,  Doctor  of  Theology  ;  John  Wanner,  and 
Doctor  Breudli,  to  Zürich.  Here  also  the  best  was  in  the 
middle,  for  both  ends  were  worm-eaten."  Zwingli 
himself  prejjared  a  detailed  report  of  tlie  happy  result  of 
this  embassy  in  a  letter  to  his  friend,  Erasmus  Fabrizius, 
who  was  then  in  his  native  city.  Stein  on  the  Rhine. 
This  report  proves  that  the  coadjutor  bishop,  Yattli,  who 
played  the  principal  j^art,  sought  to  overthrow  Zwingli 
deceitfully,  because  he  was  afraid  to  risk  an  open  attack. 

The  three  ambassadors  of  the  bishop  arrived  in  Zürich 
in  the  afternoon  of  April  Ytli.  Only  late  in  the  even- 
ing  Zwingli,    who    knew   they    were    coming    and    was 


GREAT    DISCUSSIONS    AT    ZÜKICH.  103 

curious  to  hear  what  tliej  proj)osed  to  do,  learned  from 
his  assistant,  Lueti,  that  a  notary  had  invited  all  the 
priests  to  assemble  in  the  chapter-room  of  the  preben- 
daries early  the  next  morning.  Here  the  vice-bishop, 
Yattli,  April  8th,  delivered  a  discourse,  whose  contents 
can  easily  be  inferred  from  Zwingli's  reply.  He  spoke 
very  violently,  arrogantly,  and  provokingly,  but  without 
mentioning  Zwingli's  name,  although  the  whole  address 
applied  only  to  him. 

When  he  had  linished,  Zwingli  arose,  because  he  con- 
sidered it  disgraceful  to  allow  this  address,  which  could 
do  so  much  mischief,  to  remain  unanswered,  especially 
since  he  saw  by  the  pale  faces  and  sighs  of  several 
priests,  whom  he  had  lately  gained  for  the  Gospel,  that 
tbey  were  greatly  terrified.  The  ambassadors  of  the 
bishop,  who  discovered  tbat  they  could  accomplish 
nothing  here,  turned  immediately  to  the  Lower  Coun- 
cil, where  the  bishop  delivered  the  same  discourse, 
without  mentioning  Zwingli's  name.  In  the  beginning 
it  had  been  determined  that  the  matter  should  be  post- 
poned vrithout  citing  Zwingli,  because  they  had  nothing 
to  do  with  him.  In  all  the  other  cantons  Zwingli's  bit- 
terest enemies  were  among  the  members  of  the  Lower 
Council,  and  so  it  seemed  to  have  been  here.  The 
friends  of  Zwingli  in  the  Lower  Council  brought  it  to 
pass  that  the  matter  Vv'as  laid  before  the  Upper  Council 
the  following  day,  but  Zvfingli  and  his  two  assistant 
priests  were  not  cited.  He  exerted  himself  to  the  ut- 
most to  gain  admission  for  himself  and  his  two  colleagues, 
but  in  vain.    He  was  resigned,  and  committed  all  to  God. 

The  Upper  Council  met  April  9th,  but  immediate- 
ly expressed  its  dissatisfaction  that  the  pastors  could  not 
be  heard.  The  Lower  Council  wished  to  maintain  its  reso- 
lution adopted  on   the  previous  day,  but  was  necessitated 


104  TIIK    LIFE    OK    ULFvIC    ZWINGLi. 

to  allow  an  investigation.  Then  it  ^vas  decided  that 
three  city  pastoi's,  who  in  regard  to  the  question  of  Lent 
were  of  a  different  opinion,  shonld  be  present  !  Zwin- 
gli,  Engelhardt,  and  Rösclüi  entered  the  council-cham- 
ber. The  vice-bishop  began  to  speak.  Zwingli  had 
his  tablets  in  his  hand,  and  noted  the  principal  points, 
that  he  might  be  able  to  answer  them,  Zwingli,  as 
already  observed,  was  victorious.  The  bishop  and  the 
old  faith  lost  more  than  they  gained  by  this  discussion. 
It  was  generally  remarked  at  Zurich  that  the  deputies 
would  never  more  collect  their  defeated  forces  or  en- 
gage in  a  conflict  with  success  ;  true,  it  was  also  said,  on 
the  other  hand,  that  Zwingli  wrote  to  Myconius,  "  They 
arm  themselves  a  new  ;  but  I  do  not  fear  them."  Since 
the  matter  of  fasting  was  now  publicly  disposed  of,  he 
issued,  April  16th,  the  first  j^rinted  work  with  his  name 
attached  about  fasting,  in  which  he  shows  that  no  person 
will  be  saved  by  the  deeds  of  the  law.  "  God  Himself 
gave  the  law  only  that  we  might  thereby  learn  our  sin- 
fulness and  seek  grace  alone  in  Christ,  and  after  Christ 
has  delivered  us  from  all  sin  by  His  death,  we  are  also 
in  baptism  delivered  from  all  human  institutions.  In 
short,  do  you  wish  to  fast,  do  it,  but  leave  Christians 
free,  for  the  eating  of  flesh  is  not  forbidden  by  any 
Divine  law.  If,  however,  your  neighbor  is  injured  or 
offended  by  your  eating,  you  should  not  do  it,  unless 
compelled,  till  the  weak  in  the  faith  are  strengthened." 
JSIotwithstanding  the  rapidity  with  which  he  composed 
this  as  well  as  the  most  of  his  pamphlets,  it  is  written 
with  such  eloquence  and  precision  of  expression,  with 
such  moderation  a,nd  prudence,  that  it  could  not  miss  its 
aim,  to  satisfy  and  convince  the  minds  that  a  moderate 
use  of  freedom  could  not  be  condemned  either  by  God 
or  reasonable  men. 


GREAT    DISCUSSIONS    AT    zUllICH.  105 

Tliis  excellent  pamphlet  of  Zwingli  was  most  favor- 
ably received  in  the  whole  province  of  Zürich  and  in 
other  places.  The  sensation  which  it  produced  must 
have  been  230werful,  for  the  Bishop  of  Constance  was 
compelled  to  issue  a  pastoral  letter  to  all  the  priests 
and  laity  of  his  diocese.  It  is  dated  May  2d,  and 
contains  twenty  theses,  written  in  a  venomous  tone  and 
with  odious  insinuations  concerning  the  new  doctrine, 
which  he  had  better  not  have  written.  Toward  the 
close  of  the  year  Zwingli  published  for  the  peojjle  a 
printed  refutation  of  this  pastoral  letter,  containing  the 
bishop's  twenty  theses  together  with  comments.  Mean- 
while the  delegation  had  returned  to  Constance  from 
Zürich  and  handed  the  reply  of  the  Council  to  the 
bishop  ;  but  it  did  not  meet  his  approbation.  The 
bishop  directed  a  new  Latin  letter  to  the  Provost  and 
Chapter  at  Zürich,  in  which  he  calls  upon  them  to  be- 
ware of  the  poison  of  the  new  doctrine,  and  expressed 
the  hope  that  the  scabby  sheep  in  Zürich  would  finally 
be  thrust  out. 

"When  this  letter  was  read  in  the  meeting  of  the 
Chapter,  the  canons  all  silently  looked  at  Zwingli, 
who  immediately  arose  and  said  :  "I  see  from  your 
countenances  that  you  all  believe  this  letter  is  direct- 
ed against  me.  I  am  of  the  same  opinion  ;  therefore 
I  desire  that  it  be  delivered  to  me.  With  the  help  of 
God  I  will  answer  it,  that  every  one  may  see  the  de- 
ceit of  these  people  and  the  exact  truth."  The  letter 
was  given  to  him,  and  he  answered  it  likewise  in  Latin, 
in  a  long  publication,  which  bears  the  title  "  Archet- 
eles,"  because  he  hoped,  as  he  expressed  himself  in  the 
dedication  to  the  bishop,  that  as  this  was  his  first  re- 
joinder, it  would  also  be  his  last,  and  terminate  all  strife 
with  his  opponents.     But  he  was  disappointed. 


106  THE    LIFE    OF    ULKIC   ZWINGLI. 

About  tlie  same  time  that  lie  wrote  Archeteles  he  also 
composed  other  pamphlets,  in  which  he  praised  the 
reconciliation  by  the  blood  of  Christ.  In  one  of  these 
pamphlets  he  thus  prays  :  "  0  dear  Jesus,  Thou  seest 
how  the  ears  of  Thy  people  are  closed  by  wicked  trai- 
tors and  selfish  men.  Thou  knowest  also  that  I  from  my 
childhood  have  avoided  every  strife,  and  that  Thou  art  He 
who  dost  always  lead  me  again  into  strife.  Upon  Thee 
I  confidently  call,  that  Tliou  wilt  finish  what  Thou  hast 
begun.  Have  I  built  anything  that  is  wrong,  overthrow 
it  by  Thy  Almighty  hand.  Have  1  laid  any  other 
foundation  than  Thee,  destroy  it.  O  precious  Jesus, 
forsake  me  not.  Thou  hast  promised  to  be  with  us  to 
the  end  of  the  world." 

The  bishop,  provoked  by  his  hitherto  unsuccessful 
efforts,  turned  to  the  Diet,  in  which  the  majority  were 
friends  of  the  Pope  and  people  Avho  took  pay  from  foreign 
princes.  Here  the  resolution  was  easily  passed,  that  in 
the  name  of  the  Confederation,  j^reachers  who  caused  dis- 
turbances should  be  forbidden  to  preach.  Likewise  the 
new  sermons  should  be  forbidden.  In  all  things  the  old 
customs  should  be  upheld.  The  Diet,  which  was  in  ses- 
sion in  Baden,  immmediately  wrote  to  Zürich  and  Basel 
exhorting  them  to  prohibit  the  publication  of  the  new 
books.  Everytliing  was  in  a  state  of  fermentation  ;  a 
final  decision  of  these  matters  was  everywhere  desired. 
Zwiugli  resolved  in  the  name  of  God  to  bring  about  this 
decision  by  desiring  the  Council  to  allow  a  jjublic  discus- 
sion, in  which  he  would  justify  himself  and  vindicate 
the  cause  of  the  Gospel. 

After  a  protracted  consideration  the  Upper  Council 
resolved  on  Saturday  after  the  circumcision  of  Christ, 
the  first  week  in  the  year  1523,  that  all  preachers  and 
the  remaining  clergy  in  its  province  should  appear  in 


GREAT  DiSCUSSION-S"  AT  ZURICH.  107 

the  coimcil-liall  at  Ziiricli  January  29th,  and  every  one 
should  express,  in  the  German  language,  his  opinions 
concerning  the  disputed  points  by  quotations  from  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  In  pursuance  of  the  resolution,  not 
only  the  Bishop  of  Constance  was  invited,  but  also  the 
deputies  of  the  Confederation  assembled  at  Baden  were 
■requested  to  send  their  learned  men  and  priests  to 
Zürich.  The  Bishop  of  Constance  sent  a  delegation, 
but  tlie  Confederates  were  indifferent  and  even  prohibit- 
ed their  delegates  from  going  to  Zürich.  Schaffhausen 
sent  Dr.  Sebastian  Hofmeister  {  Dr.  Sebastian  Meyer 
came  from  Berne  ;  no  person  appeared  from  Basel.  Be- 
fore the  discussion  Zwingli  had  sixty-seven  theses,  on  ac- 
count of  which  he  had  been  declared  a  heretic,  printed 
on  a  quarto  sheet.  Every  one  should  know  what  pointf 
were  to  be  discussed.  The  size  of  this  book  does  not  al- 
low the  eimmeration  of  all  the  sixty-seven  articles,  but 
several  are  given  : 

1.  All  who  say  the  Gospel  is  naught,  without  the  a-p- 
proval  of  the  Church,  err  and  slander  God.  2.  Briefly, 
the  Gospel  is  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  true  Son  of 
God,  revealed  to  us  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father,  and 
redeemed  us  from  death  and  reconciled  us  to  God.  3. 
Therefore  Christ  is  the  only  way  of  salvation  for  all  who 
ever  lived,  now  live,  or  will  hereafter  live.  4.  He  who 
seeks  or  shows  any  other  door,  errs  ;  yea,  is  a  murderer 
of  souls  and  a  thief.  6.  For  Christ  is  the  guide  and 
captain,  promised  and  given  by  God  to  the  whole  human 
race.  7.  That  He  is  the  eternal  salvation  and  head  of 
all  believers,  who  are  His  body,  which  is  dead,  and  can 
do  nothing  without  Him.  16.  In  the  Gospel  we  learn 
that  human  doctrines  and  institutions  are  useless  for  sal- 
vation. IT.  That  Christ  is  the  only,  eternal  high  priest ; 
wherefore  we  conclude  that  they  who  have  pretended  to 


108  THE    LIFE    OF    ÜLRIC    ZWINGLI. 

be  liigli  priests  resist  the  honor  and  power  of  Christ, 
yea,  reject  them.  18.  That  Christ,  who  offered  Him- 
self once,  is  forever  a  perfect  and  satisfactory  sacrifice 
for  the  sins  of  all  believers  ;  from  which  we  conclude  that 
the  mass  is  no  sacrifice.  19,  That  Christ  is  the  only 
mediator  between  God  and  man.  50.  God  forgives  sins 
only  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  His  Son,  our  Lord. 
51.  He  who  ascribes  this  to  a  creature  robs  God  of  His 
honor  and  gives  it  to  Him  who  is  not  God  :  this  is  real 
idolatry.  57.  The  genuine  Holy  Scriptures  know  of  no 
purgatory  after  this  life.  58.  The  judgment  as  touch- 
ing the  departed  is  known  only  to  God.  61.  The  Holy 
Scriptures  know  nothing  of  the  ordination,  which  the 
priests  have  lately  invented.  62.  They  also  recognize 
no  priests,  except  those  who  proclaim  the  "Word  of  God. 

Zwingli's  introduction  was  as  follows:  "I,  Ulric 
Zwingli,  acknowledge  to  have  preached  in  the  estimable 
city  of  Zürich  the  following  sixty-seven  articles  upon 
the  authority  of  the  Scriptures,  which  is  Theopneusios, 
i.e.  inspired,  and  offer  to  defend  and  prove  these  articles 
by  the  same  ;  if,  however,  I  have  not  rightly  understood 
said  Scriptures,  to  learn  a  better  interpretation,  but  only 
from  the  Holy  Scriptures  mentioned."  At  the  end  of 
it  he  said  :  "  Let  no  one  undertake  to  contend  with 
sophistry  or  idle  talk,  but  come,  allowing  the  Scriptures 
to  be  the  judge  (the  Scriptures  breathe  the  Spirit  of 
Uod),  that  he  may  either  find  the  truth,  or  if  he,  as  1 
hope,  has  already  found  it,  may  retain  it.  Amen.  God 
grant  it." 

On  Thursday,  January  29th,  1523,  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, more  than  600  citizens  and  strangers  were  assembled 
in  the  large  council-hall  at  Zürich,  among  whom  was 
also  the  deputation  of  the  bishop,  consisting  of  the 
Knight  Fritz  Jacob  von  Anwyl,  the  bishop's  steward  ; 


GREAT   DISCUSSION'S   AT  ZURICH.  109 

the  vicar-general,  John  Faber  ;  Doctor  Yengerhans  and 
Doctor  Martin  Blansch,  of  Tübingen,  besides  other 
learned  and  prominent  men.  Even  from  foreign  lands 
and  universities  ecclesiastical  and  civil  lords  had  come 
to  hear  the  discussion.  The  burgomaster,  Marx  Roust, 
arose  first  and  stated  the  reason  why  this  discussion  had 
been  announced,  and  that  Dr.  Ulric  Zwingli  was  readj  to 
give  an  account  of  his  doctrine.  Whoever  wished  to 
complain  could  speak  frankly  and  without  fear  of  pun- 
ishment. He  thanked  the  friends  present,  particularly 
the  delegation  of  the  Bishop  of  Constance,  that  they  had 
accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Council.  Hereu]3on 
Anwyl  answered  :  "  The  bishop  knows  and  feels  the  vari- 
ous dissensions  that  exist  in  his  whole  diocese  ;  he  and 
his  colleagues  had  been  sent  to  speak  kindly  of  these 
matters,  and  if  possible  to  make  peace."  In  the  centre 
of  the  hall  Zwingli  sat  alone  at  a  table,  on  which  lay  the 
Bible,  in  the  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages.  It 
was  his  beloved  book,  with  which  he  was  remarkably 
well  acquainted.  He  arose  and  delivered  a  short  address 
to  the  assembly  :  "  For  a  long  time,"  he  said,  "  the 
Word  of  God  has  been  so  arbitrarily  su2)pressed  by 
human  institutions  that  salvation  was  sought  in  these 
things,  although  our  salvation,  our  comfort,  and  happi- 
ness exist  not  in  our  merit,  nor  in  external  works,  but  in 
Jesus  Christ  our  only  Saviour,  concerning  whom  our 
heavenly  Father  bore  witness  that  we  should  hear  him  as 
His  beloved  Son.  When  this  doctrine  is  again  brought 
forward,  it  is  condemned  by  many  as  heretical.  Thia 
also  happens  to  me.  I  am  violently  accused,  throughout 
the  whole  Confederation,  of  being  a  deceiver  and  a 
heretic.  Of  this  I  complained  to  the  honorable  Council 
at  Zürich,  and  desired  that  it  would  grant  me  the  privi- 
lege of  holding  a  discussion  before  learned  and  unlearned 


110  THE  LIFE   OF   ULRIC   ZWINGLI. 

men,  also  before  the  Bishop  of  Constance,  or  his  depn- 
ties  ;  yes,  I  am  even  ready,  with  a  letter  of  safe- conduct, 
to  appear  in  the  city  of  Constance.  I  thank  the  honor- 
able Council  meanAvhile  for  the  arrangement  of  this  dis- 
cussion, for  which  I  have  brought  my  doctrine  in  sixty- 
seven  articles,  that  every  one  may  see  what  I  have 
taught,  and  if  I  err,  may  correct  me.  Whoever  imag- 
ines that  my  doctrine  and  sermons  are  heretical,  I  prom- 
ise to  answer  him  kindly  and  without  any  ill-will. 
Kow,  in  the  name  of  God  proceed.     Here  I  am," 

Then  the  bishop's  vicar-general  arose  and  endeavored 
to  frustrate  the  object  of  the  discussion  in  the  very  be- 
ginning, by  declaring  that  as  a  deputy  and  servant  of  his 
gracious  lord  of  Constance  he  would  not  undertake  to  de- 
bate here.  He  thought  such  matters  should  be  brought 
before  a  council,  and  if  anything  would  be  determined 
here  what  would  other  nations,  France,  Spain,  and  Italy, 
say.  Therefore  he  repeated:  "I  am  not  here  to 
debate." 

Zwingli  inteiTupted :  "  The  honorable  lord  deputy 
OSes  all  kinds  of  arts  to  dissuade  you  from  your  pur- 
pose. He  says  he  is  not  willing  to  debate  about  old 
and  laudable  customs  of  the  Church.  We  do  not  ask 
how  long  they  have  existed,  bat  whether  they  be  the 
truth  ;  for  the  papal  law  itself  says  usage  must  give 
way  to  truth.  He  says  further,  such  matters  should  be 
brought  before  a  council  or  settled  by  a  large  assembly. 
I  ask  him  whether  this  present  assembly  is  not  also  a 
large  Christian  assembly,  in  which  there  are  many  godly 
pastors,  many  doctors,  and  many  friends  of  God. 
Formerly  the  bishops  were  only  pastors,  not  mighty 
ruling  prelates.  Christ  says  :  '  Where  two  or  three  are 
gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst 
■of  them.'    It  matters  not  what  other  nations  will  say  ; 


ÖREAT    DISCUSSIONS   AT   ZÜRICH.  Ill 

if  they  liear  the  truth,  they  will  be  satisfied.  .  .  .  We 
do  not  need  the  universities  and  people  in  general  for 
our  judges  ;  we  have  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  cannot 
lie  or  deceive,  in  three  languages  :  this  is  the  only  true 
judge.  Therefore  let  no  one  delay  nor  draw  back. 
Especially  you  gracious  lords  of  the  Council,  proceed  con- 
fidently to  protect  the  truth  of  the  "Word  of  God." 

A  long  silence  ensued  :  not  a  sound  was  heard.  Then 
the  burgomaster  said  :  "Is  there  any  jjerson  here  who  has 
anytliing  to  say  ?    Let  him  speak."    But  no  one  replied. 

Then  Zwingli  arose  again  and  said  :  "1  ask  you, 
for  the  sake  of  Christian  love  and  truth,  that  you 
come  forward  and  refute  me,  if  I  am  wrong.  If  you 
do  it  not,  I  will  mention  the  names  of  those  who  have 
accused  me  of  heresy.  But  I  warn  you  beforehand,  for 
it  is  more  honorable  to  appear  unchallenged. ' '  This  he 
repeated  a  second  and  a  third  time. 

The  Abbot  of  Kappel,  Wolfgang  Joner,  then  asked  : 
*'  Where  are  the  persons  who  intend  to  burn  us  at  the 
stake  ?    Let  them  come  forward."     All  were  silent. 

Then  Jacob  Wegner,  the  pastor  of  Nestenbach,  said  : 
"  Less  than  a  year  ago  our  gracious  lord  of  Constance 
issued  a  mandate  that  the  traditions  of  the  Church 
should  be  observed,  whereupon  Urban  Weiss,  the  jDastor 
of  Fislispach,  was  seized.  Since  no  one  will  speak  in 
opposition  to  Dr.  Ulric's  sixty-seven  articles,  whicn  are 
against  tradition,  I  hope  we  are  now  exempt  from  the 
bishop's  mandate,  so  that  we  may  freely  preach  the 
pure  Word  of  God.  It  may  also  be  inferred  that  too 
much  severity  was  used  toward  the  pastor  of  Fislis- 
pach. I  say  this  simply  that  I  may  receive  good  advice 
concerning  this  mandate." 

The  vicar-general  was  in  a  dilemma.  Now  he  must 
speak  ;  but  he  spoke  very  unadvisedly.     God  so  ordered 


11-2  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINQLI. 

it  that  lie  suggested  a  question  for  discussion,  by  boasting 
that  lie  convinced  an  evangelical  pastor,  wlio  had  been 
brought  to  Constance  a  prisoner,  that  according  to  the 
testimony  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  saints  had 
already  been  invoked  under  the  old  covenant.  Zwingli 
quickly  seized  the  Bible  :  "  "Without  doubt  God  so 
ordered  it,"  he  said,  "that  the  vicar-general  touched 
the  article  concerning  the  invocation  and  intercession  of 
the  saints.  This  article  is  not  the  least  important  among 
those  with  which  I  am  reproached.  I  know  that  what  I 
preach  is  the  true  doctrine  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that 
Christ  Jesus  is  our  only  Saviour,  and  mediator  between 
us  and  His  heavenly  Father.  Since  the  vicar-general 
publicly  boasted  that  he  convinced  the  jJastor  of  FisHs- 
pach  of  error,  with  jDassages  from  Genesis  and  Exodus, 
Ezekiel  and  Baruch,  I  ask  him,  and  1  demand  nothing 
more,  than  that  he  mention  the  chapters  and  passages 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures  with  which  he  convinced  the 
said  pastor.  If  I  have  erred,  I  am  willing  to  be  convinced 
of  my  ignorance." 

The  matter  now  depended  upon  verses  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  referring  to  this  subject.  Faber  was  pain- 
fully embarrassed.  He  could  mention  none.  "  I  see 
very  well,  dear  sirs,  that  I  have  the  worst  of  the  argu- 
ment. I  am  reminded  of  what  the  wise  man  says  : 
'The  fool  is  easily  caught  in  his  words.'  I  am  to 
blame  for  my  folly,  in  attempting  to  speak,  although  I 
had  distinctly  said  I  did  not  wish  to  debate.  Since, 
however.  Dr.  Ulric  has  challenged  me,  I  answer  in 
reply  :  Many  hundred  years  ago,  heretics  apj3cared, 
who  also  said  the  invocation  and  intercession  of  the 
saints,  purgatory,  and  the  like  things,  were  nothing. 
These  were  brought  before  the  councils  of  the  fathers 
and  then  condemned.'  * 


GREAT    DISCUSSIOlfS   AT   ZURICH.  113 

Zwingli  answered  :  "  Sir  Yicar,  further  digression 
is  unnecessary.  Show  us,  I  beg  you,  the  passages  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures  with  wliicli  you  convinced  the 
pastor  of  Fislispach  of  error.  Answer  in  simple  and 
plain  language  :  there  and  there  it  is  recorded  ;  then 
we  will  refer  to  the  passages,  and  see  whether  it 
is  so  ;  such  a  long  speech  is  unnecessary.  We  no 
longer  respect  the  fathers  and  councils  unless  they  prove 
their  matters  from  the  Holy  ScrijDtures.  Everybody 
knows  that  councils  have  contradicted  one  another." 
Faber  sought  to  use  artifice.  Zwingli,  however,  held 
him  to  the  question,  by  again  demanding  the  specifica- 
tion of  those  passages  which  allow  the  intercession  of 
saints.  "  These  you  must  show  us  in  the  Holy  Script- 
ures ;  all  else  is  idle  talk." 

Faber  finally  answered  :  *'  Since  then  all  my  words 
are  unprofitable  and  trifling,  I  will  gladly  be  still." 
Doctor  Blansch  of  Tübingen  arose,  but  only  to  repeat 
what  Faber  had  said.  Then  Sebastian  Hofmeister  ex- 
horted the  Council  to  proceed  valiantly  with  the  Word  of 
God,  because  there  was  no  one  present  who  could  advance 
anything  better.  The  burgomaster  again  challenged  any- 
one who  felt  so  disposed  to  advance  his  opinion.  AL 
were  silent.      The  assembly  was  dismissed. 

The  Council  tarried,  and  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lution, which  was  read  in  the  afternoon  session  :  "  The 
sword  with  w^liich  the  pastor  of  Fislispach  was  slain 
will  not  make  its  appearance.  Since  Dr.  Ulric  Zwingli, 
canon  and  preacher  in  the  cathedral  at  Zürich,  has  often 
been  secretly  calumniated  and  abused  on  account  of  his 
doctrine  ;  and  since  upon  his  offer  and  the  publication 
of  his  sixty-seven  articles  no  one  confronted  him  or 
ventured  to  convince  him  of  error  from  the  Divine 
Word,    although   he    thrice    challenged  those    wlio    up- 


114  THE   LIFE   OF   ULEIC   ZWIKGLI. 

braided  him  vriih  being  a  heretic  ;  since  no  one  cou- 
vinccd  him  of  heresy  in  his  doctrine,  the  above-men- 
tioned burgomaster's  Lower  and  Upper  Council  of  the 
city  of  Zürich,  to  remove  disturbance  and  discord,  after 
mature  consideration,  resolved,  and  it  is  their  earnest 
opinion,  that  Dr.  Ulric  Zwingli  shall  continue  to  preach 
according  to  the  Spirit  of  God  and  the  best  of  his  abil- 
ity, the  Holy  Gospel  and  the  pure  Divine  Word.  Wo 
also  command  all  other  common  priests,  pastors,  and 
preachers  in  our  city  and  province  to  teach  and  preach, 
publicly  nothing  but  what  they  find  to  agree  with  the 
Holy  Gospel  and  what  can  bo  proved  from  it.  They  shall 
also  in  no  maimer  in  the  future  abuse,  accuse  of  heresy, 
or  reproach  one  another.  Whoever  disobeys  shall  be 
made  to  see  and  feel  that  he  did  wrong.  Done  in  the 
city  of  Zürich,  January  29th,  1523." 

After  this  resolution  of  the  Councils  had  been  read  in 
the  afternoon  session,  Zwingli  arose  at  his  table,  visibly 
affected  and  full  of  divine  joy,  and  spoke  of  the  glorious 
victory  of  the  Word  of  God  :  "  God  be  praised,  who  will 
have  His  holy  Word  reign  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  He, 
the  almighty,  eternal  God,  will,  I  doubt  not,  grant  you, 
my  lords,  the  power  on  other  occasions  to  maintain  the 
Word  of  God,  the  Holy  Gospel,  in  your  canton,  and  pro- 
mote the  preaching  of  the  same.  Do  not  doubt  that  the 
almighty  and  the  eternal  God  will  in  other  ways  reward 
you  for  this.     Amen." 

After  Zwingli  had  openly  preached  the  i^ure  Word 
of  God  since  150Ö  in  Glarus,  still  plainer  and  more 
fearlessly  since  1510  in  Einsiedeln,  and  labored  especial- 
ly upon  the  Reformation  of  the  Church  since  1519, 
60  by  the  issue  of  this  great  discussion  in  Zürich  a  new 
and  highly  important  foundation-stone  was  laid  in  the 
vigorous  and  constantly   extending   work   of  the  Swiss 


GREAT    DISCUSSIONS    AT   ZURICH.  115 

Reformation.  In  Zurich  and  in  tlie  province  a  free 
and  unobstructed  path  was  opened  for  the  Gospel, 
and  other  cantons  were  encouraged  to  honor  the  Gospel 
more  decidedly.  For  in  external  matters  not  even  the 
smallest  changes  had  yet  been  made.  In  Zürich 
the  mass  was  still  read,  they  confessed  and  baptized 
according  to  the  old  custom,  and  the  ch arches  were 
adorned  with  the  j^ictures  of  the  saints.  In  the  public 
service  the  Latin  language,  though  miintelligible  to  the 
people,  was  still  used.  Since,  according  to  Zwingli's  well- 
considered  ])]&!!,  all  improvements  in  religious  matters 
among  the  people  and  the  learned  should  proceed  from 
a  conviction  produced  by  proofs,  so  he  by  his  teaching 
aimed  at  the  removal  of  the  still  existing  abuses.  The 
removal  itself  must  follow,  although  proceeding  slowly 
and  prudently. 

In  the  same  year,  1523,  the  German  language  was 
introduced  in  the  public  service,  the  Latin  being  remov- 
ed. Zwingli  prepared  a  baptismal  formula  in  German, 
wherein  he  omitted  the  exorcism,  the  salt,  the  sign 
of  the  cross,  and  other  additions  ;  and  on  the  10th  of 
August  the  first  child  was  baptized  in  the  cathedral 
according  to  the  new  form.  This  new  forai  produced 
inch  surprise  and  joy  that  soon  an  entirely  German 
liturgy  was  introduced. 

1  Zwingli  was  fully  convinced  that  the  existing  external 
forms  of  public  service  should  be  changed.  To  this  ho 
livas  impelled  by  the  incojisiderate  conduct  of  a  fanatical 
l^oung  man,  Ludwig  Hetzer,  whose  sentiments  agreed 
ivith  Carlstadt  and  Münzer,  also  in  many  respects  with 
;he  Anabaptists,  and  who  became  Zwingli's  bitterest 
pnemy.  He,  in  his  premature  zeal  and  full  of  wild  fire, 
printed  in  September,  1523,  a  pamphlet  against  the 
Images,  which   was  eagerly   read   by   the   people.     Au 


110  TUi;    Lll-E    OF    L'LRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

otherwise  pious  citizen,  named  Hettinger,  became  so  ex- 
cited by  this  pamphlet  that  lie  overthi'ew  a  crucifix 
standing  in  Stadelliof,  a  suburb  of  Zürich,  and  with 
the  permission  of  the  owner  gave  the  wood  to  the  poor. 
The  government  arrested  him  ;  the  people  became 
excited,  and  took  Ilottinger's  part.  It  was  high  time 
to  interpose  with  instruction  and  order.  Zwingli  next 
printed  a  pamphlet  on  images,  in  which  he  first  of  all 
declared  that  no  one  had  a  right  to  remove  the  images 
except  the  government,  and  that  it  was  ill-advised 
to  remove  them  forcibly,  without  previous  instruction. 
"The  child  will  not  leave  the  bench, "  he  wrote,  "till 
you  have  given  him  a  ehair  to  support  himself,  before 
he  is  able  to  walk.  So  you  must  not  be  too  much 
in  haste  to  remove  the  images  and  idols  from  those 
who  ai'e  not  instructed  in  the  GosjDel,  until  faith  in 
the  one  true  God  has  been  impressed  upon  their 
hearts."  Reproved  clearly  that  images  in  general  are 
not  forbidden,  and  that  beautiful  pictures  and  statues, 
which  no  one  admired  more  than  he,  are  not  to  be  re- 
jected ;  only  the  superstitious  adoration  of  them  is  abso- 
lutely forbidden.  Then  he  showed  that  the  arts  of 
painting  and  sculpture  are  noble  gifts  of  God,  and  that 
God  Himself  ordered  the  tabernacle  to  be  adorned  with 
beautiful  pictures.  He  especially  defended  the  paintings 
on  glass  in  the  churches,  because  no  one  ever  thought  of 
adoring  them.  But  that  the  images  are  to  be  regarded 
as  books  for  the  laity  in  the  church  he  refuted  with  the 
question  :  "  Why  is  it  that,  although  the  cross  has  con- 
fronted us  everywhere  for  so  many  years,  we  never 
sought  salvation  in  Christ  ?" 

Before  the  pamphlet  on  images  appeared,  Zwingli  had 
issued  two  pamphlets  about  the  doctrine  of  the  mass, 
which  caused  a  great   sensation  among  the  clergy,  and- 


GREAT    DISCUSSIONS   AT   ZURICH.  117 

raised  the  question  among  the  people  why  the  mass  was 
not  abohshed,  since  it  was  proved  from  the  "Word  of  God 
to  he  something  entirely  different  from  what  they  had 
'hitherto  believed.  Zwingli  did  not  wish  to  be  hasty, 
hoping  that  those  who  on  account  of  old  prejudices  stiU 
clung  to  the  mass,  would  be  convinced  of  their  error  by 
being  kindly  instructed. 

After  these  pamphlets  concerning  the  images  and  the 
mass  were  widely  distributed,  the  Council  arranged  a 
second  discussion,  October  26th,  1523.  All  the  bishops 
and  the  governments  of  the  cantons  of  Switzerland  were 
invited.  Sehaffhausen  and.  St.  Gallen  alone  accepted 
the  invitation,  all  the  other  cantons  declined.  When  on 
Monday,  October  26th,  early  in  the  morning,  the  discus- 
sion was  opened  in  the  hall  of  the  council-house, 
although  ten  cantons  had  declined,  more  than  900  per- 
sons of  all  stations  in  life  were  present.  In  the  centre 
of  the  hall  Zwingli  and  Leo  Juda  sat  at  a  little  round 
table,  upon  which  lay  the  Old  and  the  New  Testaments, 
in  the  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages.  Conrad 
Hoffman  opened  the  discussion,  commencing  v^^ith  the 
images.  As  a  violent  enemy  of  Zwingli  he  spoke  very 
insolently.  Since  Zwingli  and  Leo  Juda  waited  in  vain 
for  a  refutation,  because  none  of  those  present  ven- 
tured to  make  any  objections  which  accorded  with  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  since  on  the  second  day,  when  the 
discussion  about  the  mass  took  place,  no  one  ventured 
to  contend  for  it,  the  pastors  from  the  country,  who  had 
called  Zwingli's  doctrine  heretical  from  the  pulpit,  were 
challenged  several  times  to  confute  it  by  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 

Finally,  when  all  were  cpiiet,  the  president  called 
upon  them,  one  after  another,  by  name.  The  first 
two  called   upon,  Henry  Hurliman.    pastor  of   Wädens- 


118  TIIK   LIFE   OF   ULRIC   ZWINQLI. 

ßcliweil,  and  the  pastor  of  Horgen,  were  not  present. 
Of  the  first  it  was  reported,  "  He  is  asleep  ;"  the  second 
sent  a  substitute,  who  M'ould  not  answer  for  him.  Next 
in  order  was  Pastor  Alexander  Schyterbei'g,  of  Laufen, 
who  was  a  great  fighter  in  the  pulpit  against  Zwingli. 
"When  he  hesitated  to  prove  that  the  new  doctrine  was 
heretical,  he  M'as  again  called  upon,  either  to  vindicate 
his  doctrine  here  or  to  desist  from  abuse  at  home. 
Then  he  answered  :  "I  will  give  you  a  short  answer  ;  I 
know  nothing  against  the  article."  Next  to  him  came 
the  pastor  of  Glattfelden,  Casper  Sehüchysen,  who  was 
called  upon  to  give  an  account  why  those  whom  he 
always  rebuked  from  the  pulpit  as  heretics  deserved 
the  name.  Since  he  could  give  no  explanation,  he 
promised  to  speak  the  truth  in  the  future.  At  the  re- 
quest of  the  Council,  President  Badian  arose  and  con- 
tinued the  questioning.  But  all  those  who  were  ques- 
tioned admitted  that  they  were  caught,  and  the  last  one 
thought  he  could  not  fight,  since  his  sword  was  broken 
off  at  the  hilt. 

On  Tuesday,  when  the  mass  was  discussed,  Zwingli, 
Badian,  the  Abbot  of  Kappel,  the  Abbot  of  Stein,  the 
Provost  at  Embrach,  and  the  Commander  at  Küsnacht 
spoke  in  turn.  Zwingli  showed  that  the  Lord's  Supper 
is  no  sacrifice  which  one  man  can  offer  for  others.  The 
longer  the  discussion  lasted  the  more  earnest  and  solemn 
it  became,  so  that  at  last  it  seemed  as  if  they  were  as- 
sembled in  a  church.  "When  Zwingli  at  the  close  ex- 
horted the  Council  to  allow  God  to  rule  in  spiritual 
matters,  and  said  to  them  :  "  Dear,  gracious  lords,  be 
not  terrified  !  God  is  on  our  side.  He  knows  how  to 
protect  His  cause.  I  see  well  that  you  wiU  encounter 
many  things.  But  for  the  sake  of  the  pure  Word  of 
God,    disregard  it.     Now,   in    God's  name  !     We  will 


GEEAT    DISCüSSIOKS   AT    ZÜRICH.  119 

commit  all  to  tlie  Lord  ;  He  will  never  forsake  us  in 
time  of  need.  1  heard  tliat  last  night  people  walked 
hither  and  thither  and  said  that  the  body  and  blood  of 
Cln-ist  were  to  be  rendered  of  none  effect.  But  no  one 
intends  to  do  this" — then  he  himself  and  others  were 
deeply  affected,  and  many  a  man  had  tears  in  his  eyes. 
Zwingli,  on  account  of  weeping,  could  say  no  more.  Leo 
Juda  added  a  short,  appropriate  addi-ess,  whereupon  the 
assembly  dispersed  ;  the  discussion  was  ended. 

The  two  articles  concerning  the  images  and  the  mass 
were  argued  so  thoroughly  from  the  Word  of  God  by 
Zwingli  and  Leo  Juda  that  their  argument,  by  its  perfect 
conformity  to  the  Scriptures,  triumphed  over  all  doubt. 
The  Council  now  appointed  a  committee  of  four  members 
of  each  Council,  who  should  consult  w^ith  the  Abbot  of 
Kappel,  the  Provost  of  Embach,  Commander  Schmid 
and  the  three  pastors,  Engelhardt,  Leo  Juda,  and  Ulric 
Zwingli,  how  the  Christian  doctrine  concerning  images 
and  the  mass  could  best  be  promulgated.  Zwingli  was 
unanimously  requested  to  write  a  short  introduction,  by 
which  the  pastors  who  did  not  as  yet  know  the  Gospel, 
and  those  who  had  shown  themselves  to  be  averse  to  it, 
could  be  induced  to  preach  Christ.  Zwingli  quickly 
complied  with  this  request.  The  Christian  introduction 
was  read  to  the  Council  and  approved.  The  removal  of 
the  images  and  the  mass  was  postponed  till  the  people 
were  further  informed  by  this  introduction.  Without 
delay  this  truly  glorious  production  of  Zwingli  was 
printed  and  sent  to  all  the  73astors  by  order  of  the  Coun- 
cil— a  new  mandate  preceding,  composed,  like  the  in- 
troduction, by  order  of  the  Council,  which  in  its  opinion 
was  firmly  grounded  upon  the  Divine  Evangelical  Script- 
ures of  the  Old  and  the  New  Testaments. 

In  this  document  Zwingli  adrairabl}^  shows  how  beauti- 


120  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZTTIKGLt. 

fully  and  preciously  the  Law  has  been  abolislied  Ly  tlio 
Gospel,  because  Christ  lias  rendered  satisfaction  for  our 
gins,  whereby  wc  are  not  only  redeemed  from  punishment, 
but  for  the  j^ious  believer  the  law  has  been  removed 
(Galatians  2  :  10),  for  he  lives  in  Christ,  and  Christ  in 
him.  Where  the  Spirit  of  God  is,  there  is  liberty. 
Therefore  a  man  who  lives  in  God  is  free  from  the  laws 
which  concern  the  inner  man,  and  does  freely  and  cheer- 
fully all  things  which  become  a  Christian.  "We  judge 
them  by  their  fruits,  who  are  thus  free.  Are  they 
humble  ?  it  is  owing  to  the  Divine  Spirit  which  dwells 
witlun  :  Christ  too  was  humble.  Are  they  concerned 
for  the  salvation  of  other  men  ?  so  was  Christ.  Are 
they  patient  ?  Christ  too  was  patient.  Are  they  peace- 
able ?  this  too  is  from  God.  Are  they  brave  when  the 
honor  of  God  is  concerned  ?  so  too  was  Christ.  Thus 
Zwingli  taught  true  Christian  liberty,  which  is  the  same 
as  obedience  toward  the  Word  and  command  of  God. 

As  the  Council  felt  the  importance  of  this  step  which 
it  took  by  the  publication  of  this  mandate  and  the  Chris- 
tian mtroduction,  so  Zwingli  also  perceived  the  impor- 
tance of  his  commission  ;  therefore  he  with  the  greatest 
prudence  went  not  a  step  further  than  the  people  had 
come,  and  spoke  of  the  adherents  of  the  old  usages  with 
a  forbearance  which  merits  great  respect.  The  whole 
tenor  of  his  pamphlet  shows  that  he  wrote  for  the  un- 
educated, since  no  learned  arguments  appear,  and  the 
doctrine  is  as  simple  as  the  language  ;  but  even  the  edu- 
cated he  did  not  overlook.  The  joy  at  this  splendid  pro- 
duction of  Zwingli  was  so  general  that  the  people  of 
Zürich  undertook  to  send  it  to  the  Pope.  Yet  the  Pope 
was  not  pleased,  either  with  the  httle  book  or  its  large 
circulation. 

Kevortheleös    nearly    all    the    chaplains    and    vicars 


GREAT    DISCUSSIONS   AT   ZURICH.  121 

in  the  province  did  not  wish  to  read  mass  any  more. 
"When  Henry  Widiner  continued  to  read  mass,  he 
was  reproached  by  his  colleagues.  In  this  perplexity 
the  Provost  with  the  Chapter  appeared  before  the  Coun- 
cil and  stated  in  the  presence  of  the  chaplains  their  re- 
fusal to  read  mass.  The  Council  examined  the  common 
priests,  the  chaplains,  and  assistants,  and  declared  that 
the  mandate  concerning  the  images  and  the  mass  should 
be  read  again  in  the  three  churches  of  the  city.  The 
committee  appointed  on  these  articles  should  consult 
once  more  how  the  clergy  must  act  in  reference  to  the 
mass.  The  three  common  priests,  according  to  the  re- 
quest of  the  Council,  framed  an  expression  of  their  opin- 
ion. They  dared  not  violate  their  own.  conscience,  nor 
did  they  wish  to  violate  the  consciences  of  those  who  still 
clung  to  the  old  doctrines  and  customs.  "  The  advice 
and  opinion  of  the  common  priests,  Engelhardt,  Zwingli, 
and  Leo,  concerning  the  mass  and  the  images,"  was  the 
following  : 

1.  The  Lord's  Supper  and  the  mass  are  different  cus- 
toms. The  word  mass  is  never  mentioned  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  The  body  and  blood  of  Christ  shall  not  be 
diminished,  but  used  according  to  the  institution. 

2.  The  assertion  that  the  mass  is  a  sacrifice  is  a 
denial  of  the  all-sufficient  sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ  ; 
therefore  every  good  Christian  must  insist  upon  abolish- 
ing the  mass. 

3.  We  must  abide  by  the  explicit  "Word  of  God,  and 
leave  the  consequences  to  God.  Every  alteration  which 
does  not  accord  with  the  Word  of  God  must  again  be 
removed  ;  this  change  will  cause  fresh  disturbances. 

4.  According  to  its  institution,  the  Lord's  Supper  shall 
be  administered  to  Christian  people  in  both  forms. 

5.  Since  they  could  not  deny  the  people  the  proper 


12'-i  THI-:    MTB    OF    ULKIC    ZWIXGLI. 

use  of  tlie  Lord's  Supper  any  longer,  tliey  offer  to  ad- 
minister it  on  the  approaching  Christmas  festival  entirely 
according  to  the  command  of  Jesns.  If  not  allowed  to 
do  this,  tliey  must,  according  to  their  conviction,  give 
body  and  blood,  bread  and  wine,  to  those  who  desire 
it,  or  stand  convicted  of  falsehood  by  the  Word  of 
God. 

G.  Daily  sinners  need  daily  strengthening  by  the 
"Word  of  God  ;  therefore  they  offer  to  preach  a  short 
sermon  every  day  instead  of  reading  mass,  and  to  ad- 
minister the  Lord's  Snpper  according  to  the  institution 
of  Christ,  to  every  one  who  desires  it. 

7.  Whosoever  is  offended  at  the  multitude  of  idlers 
belonging  to  the  priesthood  should  remember  that  it  is 
always  better  to  let  them  die  off  in  peace  than  compel 
them  to  act  contrary  to  the  order  of  God.  lie  who 
begins  to  break  solemn  promises  and  obligations  Avill 
soon  not  hesitate  to  attack  other  things  also,  which  would 
produce  great  distractions.  The  great  number  will  be 
diminished  as  soon  as  no  new  ones  are  admitted  and  the 
parishes  are  supplied  with  canons  and  chaplains. 

If  the  Council  did  not  accept  these  propositions,  they 
could  offer  no  others  which  would  agi*ee  with  the  "Word 
of  God.  They  ask  that  none  of  the  clergy  be  com- 
pelled to  read  mass.  Iso  one  compels  a  layman  to  com- 
mune so  and  so  often,  therefore  it  is  also  proper  that  a 
clergyman  should  be  free  from  such  compulsion.  The 
Word  of  God  compels  them  to  use  this  sacrament  and 
others  according  to  their  divine  institution.  Fearlessly 
the  Council  shall  adhere  to  the  "Word  of  God.  God  will 
not  forsake  it.  The  opponents  have  only  man's  word  ; 
the  Council  the  clear  Word  of  God,  upon  which,  like  a 
firm  foundation,  it  can  base  its  resolutions.  Like  obedi- 
ent sons,  the  councils  phall  let  God  manage  His  servant. 


GREAT    DISCUSSIONS    AT    ZL'kICH.  123 

and  do  what  He  commands  ;  then  they  will  neither  err 
nor  be  overcome. 

Zwingli  coincided  witli  this  opinion,  becanse  it  ac- 
corded with  the  Word  of  God,  and  he  constantly  advised 
tliem  to  undertake  nothing  whicli  would  not  accord  with 
the  spirit  of  the  age  and  the  directions  of  the  Bible. 
Since  the  hearts  and  the  faith  of  people  were  different, 
and  he  knew  many  weak  and  timid  ones  who  needed  for- 
bearance, he  yielded  to  the  weak  till  they  w^ould  be  able 
to  bear  strong  food.  He  sought  an  expedient  which 
would  not  injure  the  strong,  neither  strengthen  the 
weak  in  their  error,  nor  offend  them,  hoping  that  God 
would  regard  his  heart,  which  desired  only  to  build  up 
and  not  to  tear  down. 

In  his  opinion,  the  mass  and  tlie  Lord's  Supper  could 
exist  together,  since  some  would  not  forsake  the  mass, 
others  not  observe  it.  The  common  priest  should 
administer  the  Lord's  Supper  in  both  forms  to  every 
one  who  desired  it,  and  mass  should  be  read  for  some 
time,  at  least  on  Sunday,  in  all  the  churches,  with- 
out any  one  attempting  to  reproach  the  mass-priests, 
of  Mdiom  a  great  many  well  know  that  the  mass  is 
no  sacrifice.  Instead  of  offensive  language,  it  becom- 
eth  every  one  to  pray  for  a  general  illumination,  that 
all  may  be  favorable  to  pure,  simple  Christian  cus- 
toms. When  several  priests  differ  in  their  opinions, 
they  should  adhere  to  the  VV^ord  of  God  :  "  Love  bear- 
eth  all  things. "  The  Word  of  God  makes  all  things 
easy,  and  the  grievances  of  both  parties  will  be  thereby 
so  diminished  that  hope  revives  nothing  but  the  seeds 
of  peace,  and  reconciliation  will  be  sown.  What  shall 
be  read  or  omitted  in  the  mass  is  left  to  each  one's  con- 
science. This  proposed  moderation  would  attain  the  de- 
sired object  slovv'ly  but  surely.     Zwingli  sought  to  make 


I2i  TUE    LIFi:    OF    ILRIC    ZWINGLI. 

provision  for  tlio  waiits  of  all,  altliongli  the  iiupctuoiLS 
advocates  of  the  old  and  neM'  faith  might  not  be  satisfied 
with  it. 

In  reference  to  images,  it  vras  the  nnanimous  opinion 
of  the  common  priests  that  the  tablets  slionld  be  locked 
and  not  opened  again.  The  silver,  gold,  and  other 
images  should  not  be  ])ronght  out  and  carried  around, 
neither  at  the  great  festivals  nor  on  other  occasions. 
The  Council  shonld  abide  by  its  mandate,  that  no  one 
shall  place  images  in  the  churches  or  remove  them,  un- 
less he  had  placed  them  there  before,  or  unless  it  had 
been  determined  by  the  majority  of  the  whole  congrega- 
tion. 

This  advice  of  the  three  common  priests  was  first  sub- 
mitted to  the  committee  ajjpointed  by  the  Council,  which 
carefully  considered  it.  It  found  the  resolutions  on  the 
images  complete,  and  further  action  concerning  them  un- 
necessary. In  love,  without  offence  and  dissension,  they 
may  be  taken  away.  The  mass  shall  be  freed  from 
abuses,  and  such  parts  retained  as  agree  with  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  Xo  one  shall  be  forced  to  attend  mass. 
The  committee  will  not  discuss  at  present  the  new  prop- 
osition, to  administer  the  sacrament  of  the  body  and 
blood  of  Christ  according  to  the  original  institution. 
This  article  was  neither  transcribed  nor  debated,  and  no 
advice  concerning  it  imposed  upon  the  common  priests. 
This  matter  needs  a  closer  discussion,  since  it  concerns 
the  faith,  and  not  abuses.  Finally  it  was  recommended 
that  cver}'thing  which  did  not  agree  with  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  serve  to  promote  the  glory  of  God,  should 
be  removed  from  the  canon  of  the  mass. 

The  Council  could  now  adopt  a  resolution  according  to 
the  advice  of  the  three  common  priests,  or  according  to 
the  opinion  of  the  committee.     Both  views  had  their  ad- 


GREAT  DISCUSSIONS   AT   ZÜRICH.  1:25 

vantages.  Concerning  the  images  the  Council  agreed 
with  the  advice  that  the  tablets  should  be  locked  and 
that  the  images  should  not  be  carried  about.  The  re- 
moval of  idols  was  something  suspicious,  repugnant,  and 
a  heavy  burden  to  Marx  Roeussen. 

The  mass  was  the  principal  subject  of  consultation. 
It  was  retained  for  the  present,  but  every  one  was  at 
liberty  to  read  mass  or  not.  Brotherly  love  and  unity 
were  recommended  to  both  parties.  To  instruct  tlie 
clergy  still  further,  the  whole  priesthood  was  invited  to 
appear  before  the  Council.  Meanwhile  the  Council  would 
not  take  further  action  concerning  the  Reformation. 
The  faith  was  too  highly  esteemed  to  precipitate  a 
change  ;  the  Council  would  not  listen  to  any  harsh  meas- 
ures. A  decisive  resolution  was  postponed  until  Pente- 
cost. 

Evidently  better  information  was  sought  ;  therefore 
it  was  resolved  to  send  the  Christian  introduction 'to 
the  Bishops  of  Chur,  Constance,  and  Basel,  the  Univer- 
sity at  Basel,  and  all  the  Confederates,  with  the  request 
kindly  to  communicate  their  objections  founded  on  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  After  hearing  them,  the  matter  shall 
be  taken  up  again  in  a  half  year,  to  determine  what  is 
pleasing  to  God  and  profitable  to  His  word.  In  the  same 
session  of  the  Council  a  certain  resolution  was  adopted, 
which  had  immense  influence  upon  the  future  course 
of  events.  Hitherto  the  Lower  Council  alone  trans- 
acted all  business  which  concerned  the  clergy,  received 
complaints  against  them,  and  determined  punishments. 
Hereafter  this  business  was  brought  before  the  Upper 
Council,  whereby  the  reformed  party  gained  a  decided 
majority,  while  their  opponents  belonged  principally  to 
the  Lower  Council.  Many  of  them  were  respected  on  ac- 
count of  their  age  and  services  and  too  much  accustomed 


136  THE    LIFE   OF   ULItlC    ZWINGLI. 

to  seek  pensions  or  support  from  princes  and  lords  for 
themselves  or  their  children.  This  mania,  destructive  to 
the  Fatherland  still  secretly  lingered  in  Zürich. 

The  people  of  Zürich,  earnestly  meditating  upon  the  ex- 
tirpation of  this  state-poison,  in  order  to  deal  with  every- 
one as  free  men,  won  the  grandest  victory  over  themselves 
and  decreed  the  abolition  of  pensions.  On  the  evening 
of  St.  Thomas's  daj,  December  21st,  Zwingli,  who  never 
lost  sight  of  his  object  to  deliver  the  Confederates  from 
all  injurious  alliances  with  foreign  princes,  preached  in 
the  small  cathedral  earnestly  and  decidedly  against  pen- 
sions. Immediately  after  the  sermon  all  the  secular 
priests,  canons,  assistants,  and  chaplains  of  the  city  took 
an  oath  not  to  receive  pensions  either  from  the  Pope, 
the  Emperor,  nor  from  kings,  princes,  and  lords.  The 
burgomaster  and  the  Councils  took  a  similar  oath  on  the 
following  day  in  the  choir  of  the  large  cathedral.  In  the 
evening  all  priests  were  likev>'ise  assembled  in  the  choir 
of  the  cathedral,  and  bound  themselves  by  a  like  oath. 
Whoever  transgressed  forfeited  his  life.  So  the  truth, 
which  the  great  Reformer  proclaimed,  celebrated  one 
victory  after  another. 

It  can  easily  be  imagined  that  the  work  of  the  icono- 
clasts caused  many  an  unpleasant  scene.  Although  the 
images  were  more  and  more  despised^  yet  the  hour  ap- 
pointed for  their  removal  had  not  yet  come.  Rashness 
in  regard  to  them  could  not  remain  unpunished.  The 
iconoclasts,  headed  by  Ilottinger,  the  shoemaker,  had 
acted  contrary  to  earnest  mandates,  and  by  their  vehe- 
mence caused  the  government  to  be  slandered.  Shoe- 
maker Ilottinger  Vvas  exiled  for  two  years,  and  even 
then  not  allowed  to  return  without  being  joardoned. 
Lorenz  Hochruetiner,  the  weaver,  was  also  compelled  to 
leave  the  Canton  of  Zürich.     Ilenrv  Ockenfuss  was  ar- 


GREAT    DISCUSSIONS   AT   ZURICH.  127 

raigned  before  the  two  Councils  and  censured.  All  were 
required  to  pay  the  costs. 

The  images  had  lost  their  claims  to  respect.  Ten 
years  after  it  had  happened,  Thomas  Platter  artlessly 
relates  how  he,  as  the  servant  of  the  school-teacher 
Myconius,  was  required  to  kindle  fire,  and  having  no 
wood,  sneaked  into  the  church  and  took  from  the  altar 
the  image  of  the  Evangelist  St.  John  and  threw  it  into 
the  stove  with  the  words  :  "  Jseggli,  now  stoop  ;  you 
must  go  into  the  stove,  although  you  are  said  to  be  St. 
John."  The  image  blazed  up.  Myconius,  who  did  not 
know  what  had  been  done,  praised  his  servant  for  the 
good  fire,  but  became  uneasy  and  apprehensive  when 
he  heard  two  priests  quarrel  and  one  harshly  assail 
the  other,  "  You  Lutheran  villain,  you  stole  my  John." 
Fortunately  no  one  saw  the  young  church  robber  ;  and 
it  would  have  cost  him  his  life  had  he  not  kept  it  a 
secret  ten  years.  Others  were  not  always  deterred 
from  similar  attempts  by  Hottinger's  punishment. 

In  St.  Peter's  Church  the  palm-mule  was  kept. 
Annually  the  butchers  took  it  to  the  linden-yard  on 
Palm  Sunday.  It  was  a  little  festival  for  them.  It 
was  incumbent  on  the  common  priest  to  treat  them  to 
cakes.  In  defiance  oi  the  butchers,  or  induced  by  the 
contempt  for  this  annual  procession,  several  malicious 
persons  stole  the  keys  of  the  church  at  twilight.  With 
great  difficulty  the  mule,  adorned  with  the  image  of 
Christ,  was  taken  out  over  the  railing  and  into  the 
churchyard  to  frighten  those  passing  by,  or  otherwise 
create  a  disturbance.  They  accomplished  their  pur]»ose, 
since  the  right  persons  came.  Two  citizens,  armed  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  at  that  time,  with  side-arms,  were 
tlie  first  to  meet  this  monster.  Quickly  they  drew 
their  swords,  attacked  the  mule,  and  stoned  him,  with- 


1-28  TIIK    LIFK    OF    I'LUIC    ZWIXGLI. 

out  knowing  against  Avhoni  they  Averc  fighting.  The  in- 
considerate jokers  were  near  by  to  await  the  result.  Ono 
of  the  citizens  who  fought  against  the  inulo  thought  lie 
knew  the  enemy,  and  wjien  lie  found  the  men  together, 
promised  them  a  drink  if  they  would  go  witli  him  and 
see  whether  it  really  was  the  palm-nndc.  They  ac- 
companied him.  The  proposition  to  throw  the  mulu 
into  the  lake  pleased  them.  He  was  dragged  to  the 
bank  near  by,  cast  into  the  water,  and  sunk  with  stones. 
Conrad  Baunian  had  taken  the  keys.  Henry  Dachsman 
gave  the  advice  to  cast  the  mule  into  the  sea.  Both  of 
them,  together  M'ith  five  others,  w^ere  imprisoned.  The 
wise  and  prudent  Council  would  not  allow  such  mischief. 
The  images'  last  hour  had  not  yet  come.  ]^o  new  im- 
ages dared  be  made,  and  processions  must  be  omitted. 

One  reform  evidently  followed  another.  They  w^ero 
willing  to  do  wdiat  could  no  longer  be  prevented.  The 
chapter  of  the  canons  was  now  so  changed  that  divine 
services  were  held  every  morning  in  the  choir  of  the 
cathedral,  consisting  of  a  prayer,  the  reading  of  a  selec- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  Latin,  Greek,  and 
Hebrew  lano-uaofes,  and  the  so-called  matins  in  German 
for  the  congregation.  Soon  afterward,  singing  was  also 
added.  Yillage-schools  flourished  in  the  counti-y,  the 
fanners  read  the  Xew  Testament,  which  was  translated 
into  the  German  language  by  Zwingli  and  Leo  Juda. 
The  cloisters,  at  the  request  of  their  occupants,  M'ere 
used  for  the  sick  and  the  poor.  The  nuns  and  monks 
who  laid  aside  the  dress  of  their  orders  could  remain. 
The  peaceful,  just,  and  decided  procedure  of  the  Coun- 
cil prevented  all  unpleasant  scenes. 

The  work  of  the  Lord  prospered  and  showed  plainly  the 
wisdom  and  prudence  with  which  Zwingli  conducted  the 
Reformation  of  the  Church.   The  former  dis(;ourscs  of  the 


GUEAT    DISCUSSIONS    AT    zL'fUCII.  129 

mendicant  friars,  St.  Jacob's  brethren,  hermits,  and  others, 
concerning  the  heights  of  heaven  and  the  joys  therein,  the 
depths  of  hell  and  the  torments  therein,  the  sonls  in 
purgatory  and  indulgences,  had  lost  their  power,  because 
the  people  fathomed  the  basis  of  such  sermons.  The 
preachers  could  not  help  themselves  any  longer  with 
Seneca,  Aristotle,  and  Scotus.  Even  the  edicts  of  the 
Popes  were  futile.  The  people  demanded  proofs  from 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  doctrines  of  St.  Paul  were 
valued  only  so  much  the  higher  as  his  opponents  under- 
valued him.  In  the  homes  of  the  people,  in  city  and 
country,  were  to  be  found  those  books  of  the  Old  and 
the  New  Testaments  which  Zwingli  had  hitherto  trans- 
lated, to  which  were  added  those  finished  in  1530,  so 
that  at  the  end  of  this  year  many  thousands  possessed 
the  whole  Bible  in  Swiss-German,  according  to  Zwin- 
gli's   translation. 

The  houses  of  the  country  people  were  made  Christian 
schools  by  the  reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  this 
pious  custom  in  their  native  hmguage  rendered  the  Latin 
services  unendurable.  Zwingli 's  work  had  taken  root, 
deeply  and  extensively. 

In  the  year  1525  the  Lord's  Supper  was  celebrated  for 
the  first  time  in  the  manner  offered  by  Zwingli,  based  upon 
the  old  churchly  custom.  It  was  Thursday  in  Passion- 
week.  The  great  cathedral  was  not  able  to  contain  all 
who  wished  to  commune  in  the  new  way.  After  the  ser- 
mon, Zwingli  with  two  deacons  stepped  to  the  altar,  cov- 
ered with  a  white  cloth,  which  stood  in  the  nave  of  the 
church.  They  stood  behind  it,  Zwingli  in  the  middle, 
facing  the  congregation.  After  a  short  prayer,  during 
which  the  whole  congregation  knelt,  one  of  the  deacons 
read  1  Cor.  11  :  20-29,  whereupon  both,  with  the  whole 
congregation  said:  "  God  bo  praised."     Then  Zwingli, 


loO  THE    LIKE    OF    ULKIC    ZM'IXGLI. 

-witli    the  two   deacons  and   tlie  congregation  repeated 
alternately  the  Gloria  in  Excelsis  :  *'"  Glory  be  to   God 

on    high.      And  on  earth  peace "     After    the 

salutation  :  "  The  Lord  be  with  yon,"  to  which  the 
congregation  responded,  ''  And  with  thy  s]oirit,"  one  of 
the  deacons  read  John  G  :  47-53.  After  lie  had  finished 
reading,  ho  said  :  "  God  be  thanked  and  praised  for 
this,  who  will  forgive  us  all  our  sins  according  to  His 
Holy  Word,"  closed  the  book  and  kissed  it.  The  con- 
gregation answered  solemnly,  "Amen."  Then,  the  dea- 
cons having  repeated  responsively  the  Apostles'  Creed, 
Zwingli  exhorted  to  self-examination,  and  the  people 
kneeling  repeated  the  Lord's  Prayer.  After  the  sol- 
emn Amen  of  the  people,  Zwingli  prayed  again,  when, 
amid  the  breathless  silence  of  the  congregation,  the 
words  of  the  institution  were  repeated  in  a  loud  solemn 
voice,  Zwingli  held  up  the  bread,  brake  it,  and  handed  it 
to  the  two  deacons,  and  then  also  held  up  the  cup  and 
presented  it.  The  two  deacons  took  the  bread  and  the 
cup  and  carried  them  to  the  congregation  still  kneeling 
in  the  pews.  Because  there  were  so  many  people,  and 
the  golden  vessels  were  not  sufficient,  they  took  v^'ooden  , 
plates  and  wooden  cups,  as  was  often  done  in  the  early 
Christian  Clmrch.  "When  all  had  received  the  consecrated 
bread  and  wine,  wdiile  the  last  words  of  Jesus  according 
to  John  13,  14,  15,  16,  were  read  from  the  jjulpit, 
Zwingli  offered  a  prayer  of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  sim- 
ilar to  the  103d  Psalm,  wdien  the  celebration  was  closed 
with  a  short  exhortation   and  the  benediction. 

Indescribably  great  w^as  the  impression  made  by  this 
first  celebration  according  to  the  new  mode.  All  were 
most  deeply  affected.  Aged  men  and  women,  while  re- 
ceiving the  bread  and  wine  with  thankful  emotions,  wept 
aloud.     After  the  celebration  manv  embraced  each  other 


GREAT   DlSCJSSlOisS    AT    ZURICH.  131 

as  redeemed  brethren.  People  wlio  had  long  been  enemies 
extended  their  hands  sincerely  to  one  another  ;  a  spirit 
of  brotherly  love  as  in  the  early  Christian  Church  conld 
he  felt  everywhere.  Zwingli  conld  not  thank  the  Lord 
sufficiently  for  the  rich  blessing  of  this  first  celebration 
of  the  Lord's  Supper.  As  in  the  city,  so  also  in  the 
country,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  celebrated  hereafter  in 
the  same  manner. 

Since  this  celebration  three  hundred  and  sixty 
years  have  passed  away,  yet  the  manner  of  the  cele- 
bration remains  substantially  the  same.  The  reforms 
which  gradually  prepared  a  path  for  themselves, 
in  Zürich  and  in  the  country  ;  the  growing  conviction  in 
the  Council  and  among  the  people  of  the  magnitude  of 
the  abuses  and  their  necessary  removal ;  the  hatred  of 
the  power  and  dissolute  life  of  the  priesthood,  allowed 
no  cessation  in  the  onward  movement.  The  innova- 
tions which  had  been  introduced  proved  themselves  to 
be  so  salutary  beyond  expectation  that  Zwingli  imme- 
diately planned  a  Christian  order  of  service  in  the 
Church,  that  the  life  of  a  Christian  should  agree  as  much 
as  possible  with  his  new  confession.  The  ties  which 
had  bound  the  wardens,  the  clergy,  and  the  people  to  the 
Pope  and  the  Bishoj)  of  Constance  v/ere  already  as  good 
as  broken. 

The  Synod,  which  consisted  of  all  the  clergy  and 
several  members  of  the  Great  Council,  took  the  place 
of  the  bishop.  At  the  head  of  the  Synod  was  an  Antistes 
who  through  deans  and  elders  administered  order  and 
had  the  oversight.  In  the  congregation  several  pious, 
honorable  men  elected  by  the  congregation  were  added 
to  the  pastor,  who  should  take  care  of  the  congregation. 
They  cared  for  the  sacred  observance  of  the  Sabbath, 
besides  which,   as  long  as  Zwingli  lived,  not  only  the 


132  THE    LIFE    UF    ULKIC    ZWINGLI. 

chief  festival  days,  but  also  several  other  days,  were 
celebrated.  They  were  concerned  for  the  sacredness  of 
the  marriage  tie.  If  any  one  led  an  nnchristian  life, 
they  cited  him,  and  admonislied  him  kindly  and  earnestly. 
But  if  he  would  not  listen  to  them,  and  continued  in  his 
perverseness,  they  excluded  him  from  the  holy  commun- 
ion. If  he  transgressed  those  commandments  of  God 
which  come  within  the  sphere  of  the  government,  they 
informed  the  authorities,  that  wickedness  might  be 
punished  in  good  time.  Zwingli  experienced  the  joy  of 
being  able  to  write  concerning  the  church  at  Zürich  : 
"  The  apostolic,  true,  holy  Church  of  God  has  the  real, 
pure  doctrine,  prayer,  the  breaking  of  bread,  holy  bap- 
tism, confession,  repentance,  amendment,  and  forgiveness 
of  sins.  This  the  church  at  Zürich  has  also.  What  the 
early  Church  considered  to  be  necessary  customs,  those 
the  Church  at  Zürich  has  too.  Marriage  she  confirms  in 
good  order  and  with  prayer  to  God.  The  saints  are 
remembered  with  honor,  whose  love  and  faith  are  to  be 
imitated.  The  dead  are  buried  decently,  but  without  ob- 
serving ceremonies,  which  are  not  taken  from  the  "Word 
of  God.  Fasting  and  almsgiving,  wliicli  were  highly 
honored  by  the  early  Christians,  have  also  in  Zürich 
their  honorable  Christian  order.  The  beloved  youth 
are  diligently  instructed  in  the  fundamental  doctrines  of 
the  true  Christian  religion.  That  it  has  no  external 
ornaments  of  gold  and  silver,  pictures,  carved  and  en- 
graved images,  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  early  Church 
did  not  have  them,  and  even  rejected  them.  Therefore 
the  Church  at  Zürich  laid  aside  the  ceremonies  and  re- 
turned to  ancient  simplicity.  God  will  be  honored  not 
with  outward  show,  but  with  faith,  love,  innocency  of 
spirit,  and  in  truth.  To  Him  be  praise  and  honor 
through  Jesus  Christ  forever.     Amen." 


GREAT    DISCUSSIO:!^S   AT   zLJRlCU.  133 

Thus  we  see  the  glorious  results  of  the  two  discussions 
at  Zürich  reaching  their  highest  point  in  1525  :  the  im- 
provement in  doctrine  and  faith,  as  it  was  already  called 
in  Zwingli's  time,  is  in  substance  finished.  The  onward 
course  of  the  great  Reformer  was  systematic,  tranquil,  but 
firm  and  decided.  He  followed  his  conscious  aim  v/itli 
steady  consistency,  only  step  by  step,  sparing  the  con- 
sciences of  the  weak  and  the  strong,  because  he  wished  not 
to  tear  down,  but  build  up.  He  was  perfectly  success- 
ful in  introducing  and  grounding  the  reformation  of  the 
Church  and  of  the  Fatherland  by  an  uninterrupted  vin- 
dication of  the  divine  authority  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
The  glorious  results  of  his  labors  in  the  short  period  of 
about  six  years  were  :  A  German  sermon  as  the  centre 
of  every  divine  service  ;  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  »Supper 
according  to  the  command  of  the  Holy  Gospel  ;  instruc- 
tion of  the  youth'and  examination  before  their  first  com- 
munion ;  morning  and  afternoon  services  on  Sunday, 
with  singing,  prayer,  reading  a  selection  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  a  sermon  ;  weekly  meetings  to  study  the 
Bible  instead  of  matins  and  vespers  ;  a  daily  biblical  dis- 
course, with  the  exception  of  Friday,  in  the  chapter- 
house ;  mass  and  choir  singing  are  silent  ;  synods,  classes, 
etc. ,  instead  of  the  supervision  of  the  bishop  ;  the  deliver- 
ance of  the  Fatherland  from  the  dreadful  plague  of  re- 
ceiving pensions  from  popes  and  princes  ;  the  great  cor- 
ruption of  morals  among  all  classes  powerfully  restricted  ; 
a  prosperous  theological  seminary  for  Chi'istian  young 
men,  according  to  his  plan  and  under  his  guidance,  hav- 
ing as  teachers,  Ceporin,  Pellican,  Myconius,  Collin, 
Megander,  and  others.  His  friends  in  his  own  country 
justly  named  him  "the  trumpet  of  the  Gospel."  In 
Southern  Germany  he  was  called  "  the  eye  and  true 
bishop  of  the  Fatherland."       Even    in  papal  Italy  he 


134  THE    LIFU    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

]al)ored,  by  ]xiniplilcts  and  letters,  for  the  pure  Gospel, 
M'liilc  Lis  scholars  transformed  entire  churches.  The  Ke- 
former  of  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Hesse  had  been  his 
scholar  ;  also  Lasko,  the  Reformer  of  East  Frisia. 
The  Evangelical  Church  of  Italy,  the  AValdenses,  ac- 
cepted his  doctrine.  To  the  people  of  Muehlhausen  he 
could  -write  :  "  God,  who  watches  our  conflict,  rules 
over  all  countries.  He  will  not  overlook  you,  who  con- 
tend for  His  name's  sake  ;  He  will,  when  the  time  has 
come,  regard  also  your  enemies  and  put  them,  to  flight. 
God  increase  your  faith.'' 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ZWIXGLl's    STANDPOINT    OVEE    AGxVINST    LUTHKK. 

At  the  early  age  of  twenty-two  years  Zwingli  was 
honored  by  learned  and  experienced  men  of  science  far 
and  wide  "  as  a  perfect  expounder  of  the  Scriptures." 
His  scientific  knowledge  bordered  on  the  marvellous,  and 
caused  in  his  Fatherland  the  greater  surprise,  since  he 
never  used  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  which  the  Uni- 
versity at  Basel  had  bestowed  upon  him  on  account  of 
his  great  knowledge.  His  constant  communion  with 
God,  who  since  the  days  of  his  childhood  had  become 
his  staff  and  support  in  happy  and  sorrowful  hours,  and 
continued  to  be  until  death,  did  not  allow  him  to  use 
such  honors  and  dignities  to  increase  his  reputation. 
"  One  is  our  Master,  Christ,"  he  was  generally  accus- 
tomed to  say  to  those  who  advised  a  public  use  of  the 
justly  merited  title  of  honor. 

It  must  have  been  very  painful  to  Zwingli  that 
Luther,  without  knowing  him,  was  accustomed  to  re- 
proach him  verbally  and  in  writing  that  he  (Zwingli)  was 
a  mere  repeater  of  his  (Lnther's)  doctrine.  This  grieved 
Zwingli,  who  was  otherwise  modest,  not  because  his  de- 
served renown  was  thereby  diminished,  but  because  this 
calumny,  which  was  spread  among  the  people  to  ruin  his 
great  reputation  in  Switzerland  and  in  Germany,  weak- 
ened a  strong  proof  of  the  truth  of  their  common  doe- 
trine,  that  two  men,  so  widely  separated,  standing  in  no 
confiection,    even    unknown   to   each    other   by   name, 


13G  Tin:  i.irn  of  i  lric  zwixgli. 

taught  as  harmoniously  as  if  tliey  Lad  agreed  upon  it. 
"'  I  connuenced  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  151(5, 
before  a  single  person  in  our  country  knew  anything  of 
Luther's  name.  When  Luther's  exposition  of  the  Lord's 
Prayer  was  issued,  and  1  shortly  before  had  preached  on 
this  prayer  in  Matthew,  many  good  people  M'ho  found 
my  thoughts  everywhere  in  it  could  not  be  dissuaded 
from  the  opinion  that  I  was  the  author  of  the  little  book, 
and  had  i:)refixed  Luther's  name  because  I  was  afraid  to 
own  my  work.  Who  could  reproach  me  with  being  a 
Lutheran  ?  Why  did  the  Iloman  cardinals  and  legates, 
who  then  lived  in  our  city,  Zürich,  not  accuse  me  of 
being  a  Luthei'an  until  they  had  declared  Luther  a  here- 
tic, although  that  did  not  make  him  a  heretic.  After 
that  they  said  that  I  was  a  Lutheran.  Luther's  name 
■was  not  known  to  me  for  two  years  after  I  had  adhered 
only  to  the  Bible.  But  it  is  only  through  craftiness  that 
papists  give  me  and  others  this  name.  If  they  say,  You 
must  certainly  be  a  Lutheran  ;  you  preach  as  Luther 
"writes,  my  answer  is,  '  I  preach  also  as  Paul  writes  ; 
why  do  you  not  rather  call  me  a  Paulinian  ?  Yes,  I 
preach  the  AVord  of  Christ  ;  wdiy  do  you  not  rather  call 
me  a  Christian  ? '  Therefore  this  is  only  a  trick.  In  my 
opinion,  Luther  is  an  excellent  champion  of  God.  What 
does  it  concern  me  that  the  papists  accuse  me  and  him  of 
being,  heretics?  In  the  manly  spirit  with  which  heat- 
tacked  the  Pope  of  Rome,  none  has  equalled  him.  But 
whose  is  the  deed — God's,  or  Luther's?  Ask  Luther 
himself ;  he  will  certainly  tell  you  it  is  God's  doings. 
Why  do  you  ascnbe  the  doctrines  of  other  persons  to 
Luther,  when  he  himself  ascribes  them  to  God,  and  pro- 
duces nothing  but  what  is  contained  in  the  Word  of 
God  ?  Nevertheless,  I  will  not  bear  Luther's  name, 
because  1  have  read  little  of  his  doctrine,  and  carefully 


ZWINGLI'S   STANDPOINT    AGAINST   LUTHER.  137 

avoided  liis  books,  only  to  satisfy  tlie  papists.  What  I 
have  read  of  his  writings,  so  far  as  it  concerns  the  doc- 
trines and  opinions  of  Scripture,  is  generally  well  ex- 
amined. I  know  also  that  in  several  things  he  concedes 
much  to  the  weak  ;  for  instance,  in  his  little  book  con- 
cerning the  ten  lepers  (as  I  have  been  told,  for  I  have 
not  read  it),  he  concedes  something  to  confession,  that 
yon  shall  present  yourself  to  the  priest,  which  cannot 
be  dra^wn  from  this  narrative  of  the  Evangelist.  Devout 
Christians  do  not  allow  the  honorable  name  of  Christ  to 
be  exchanged  for  the  name  of  Luther  ;  for  Lnther  did 
not  die  for  us.  Does  Luther  preach  Christ  ?  he  does 
what  I  do  ;  although,  God  be  praised  !  by  him  a  greater 
number  will  be  led  to  God,  since  God  makes  the  meas- 
ure greater  or  smaller,  as  He  pleases.  I  will  bear  no 
name  but  that  of  my  captain,  Jesus  Christ,  whose  sol- 
dier I  am.  JSTo  one  respects  Luther  more  highly  than  1 
do.  But  I  testify  before  God  and  men  that  I  never 
wrote  a  syllable  to  him,  nor  caused  one  to  be  written, 
nor  he  to  me.  I  refrained  from  this,  not  that  I  feared 
any  one,  but  because  I  wished  to  show  all  men  how  uni- 
form the  Spirit  of  God  is,  since  we  who  are  so  widely 
separated  are  so  harmonious  without  any  consultation." 

Before  the  ban  pronounced  against  Luther,  June  15th, 
1520,  was  published,  Zwingli,  hearing  that  the  letter  of 
excommunication  had  been  despatched,  resolved  to  go  to 
his  friend,  William  de  Falconibus,  the  secretary  of  the 
legate  Ennius,  who  in  the  absence  of  the  legate  man- 
aged the  affairs  of  the  Roman  Court,  and  remonstrate 
against  the  publication  of  the  papal  edict  of  excommuni- 
cation. In  this  connection  the  fact  is  worthy  of  mention 
that  Zwingli,  in  a  letter  to  Myconius,  already  expressed 
a  presentiment  of  his  violent  death,  which  happened 
eleven  years  later,  and  stated  that  he  would  shortly  uu 


13S  TIIH    I.IFK   OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

tercede  in  belialf  of  Luther.  "  As  for  mc,  a  victim  de- 
voted to  death,  I  expect  only  evil  from  all,  clergy  and 
laymen,  and  beg  of  Christ  only  the  grace  to  hear  all  with 
manly  courage,  and  that  lie,  according  to-  His  good 
pleasure,  destroy  or  preserve  his  vessel.  And  if  the 
ariathema  falls  ujjon  me,  1  will  remember  the  holy  Hila- 
rius,  M-ho  M'as  exiled  from  Gaul  to  Africa,  and  Pope 
Lucius,  who  was  expelled,  but  reinstated  with  great 
honor.  Tnie,  I  do  not  consider  myself  equal  to  them,  but 
the  wholly  undeserved  fate  of  these  excellent  men  will 
comfort  me.  Yea,  I  will  rejoice  to  suffer  ignominy  for 
the  sake  of  Christ.  But  let  him  that  standeth  take  heed 
lest  he  fall" 

Since  Zwingli's  generous  intercession  for  Luther  Avas  in 
vain,  he  sought  by  other  means  to  prevent  the  Pope's 
thunder  of  excommunication  against  him.  He  issued 
a  pamphlet,  without  prefixing  the  name  of  the  author,  the 
place  of  publication,  or  publisher  (which  was  Zwingli's 
first  printed  pamphlet,  and  deserves  to  be  mentioned 
on  this  account,  but  more  for  its  contents),  which  shows 
the  author's  great  wisdom,  love  of  peace,  Impartality, 
and  love  of  truth.  This  beautiful  proof  of  faith  closes 
tlius  :  "I  desire  that  evangehcal  truth  may  triumph, 
and  all  things  subserve  the  honor  of  Christ."  Tlie 
secret  of  its  authorship  was  so  o-ell  preserved  that  Zwin- 
gli's  name  was  not  mentioned  then  nor  since,  and  the 
pamphlet  appears  to  have  been  quite  forgotten.  But 
alas,  M-ith  this  pamphlet  Zwingli  did  not  succeed  In  con- 
vincing the  Pope  of  his  error.  Yet  this  noble  deed 
which  Zwingil  performed  In  behalf  of  Luther,  who 
knew  nothing  about  it,  is  narrated  from  generation  to 
generation.  May  the  Church  which  Zwingli  founded 
nevG=r  lose  hla  spirit  ! 


CHAPTEE  XVII. 


A  T  T  E  JI  r  T  S     AT     M  Ü  K  D  E  R  , 


As  early  as  1520  Zwlngli  was  visited  by  friendly, 
lionorable  citizens,  who  inquired  whether  the  doors  of  his 
dwelling  were  secured  by  strong  fastenings.  Receiving 
an  affirmative  answer,  they  remarked  :  "  Then  be  watch- 
ful to-night.  Your  friends  will  also  be  on  the  watch  ; 
but  they  might  arrive  too  late.  If  attacked,  hold  out  at 
least  a  little  while." 

"  Such  evenings,"  relates  George  Stcäheli,  "  we  passed 
many.  Yet  we  had  the  support  of  good  friends,  who 
often  stood  guard  about  the  house  at  night.  Many  a 
time  we  surely  expected  to  be  attacked.  But  we  were 
well  prepared.  At  one  time  we  received  a  letter  from 
an  unknown  person  at  a  distance,  so  that  we  greatly  mar- 
velled and  regarded  it  as  a  manifest  dispensation  of  Prov- 
idence. On  the  following  day  I  chanced  to  pass  over 
the  upper  bridge  on  my  way  to  church.  Here  I  met  a 
chaplain,  who  invited  me  to  a  walk  about  the  moat  of  the 
city  walls.  He  besought  me  most  earnestly  to  remove 
my  effects  from  Zwingli's  residence,  and  also  to  leave  it 
myself.  Should  I  refuse  to  heed  this  warning,  I  would 
repent  of  it  hereafter,  for  something  gi-eat  was  about  to 
happen.  Then  he  read  to  me  an  extract  from  a  letter  : 
'  Let  Zwingli  take  good  care  from  whom  he  purchases 
bread  and  meat.'  From  this  I  perceived  that  the  chap- 
lain had  heard  of  the  attempt  against  which  the  lirst- 
named  letter  had  warned  us,  and  that  this  information 


llü  THi:    I.[FK    OF    ULKIC    ZWINOLI. 

had  been  ßcp.t  to  Constance.  But  1  did  not  pursue  the 
matter  any  farther."  More  liglit  is  thrown  npon  tliis 
occurrence  by  an  anonymous  commnnication,  which,  us 
it  afterward  appeared,  was  written  by  Michael  Hummel- 
berg,  and  by  its  date  determines  the  year  to  have  been 
1522.  It  is  apparently  tlie  same  letter  to  which  Stälieli 
refers,  and  it  seemed  to  him  of  necessity  to  have  been  a 
providential  means  of  saving  Zwingli,  since  the  writer, 
by  reason  of  his  youthful  timidity,  had  been  hitherto 
restrained  from  honoring  Zwingli  and  beseeching  his 
friendship  ;  ])ut  now,  for  the  first  time,  he  would  do 
so,  because  his  heart  impelled  him  to  vrarn  the  lie- 
former.     And  thus  he  writes  : 

'*  If  you  (Zwingli)  ever  cared  for  your  life,  you  must 
do  it  especially  at  this  time,  because  you  are  menaced  by 
tsecret  traps  and  snares.  Deadly  poison  is  j^repared  to 
put  you  out  of  the  way.  Since  the  godless  fellows  dare 
not  attack  you  openly,  they  desire  to  remove  you  from 
the  earth  as  they  did  Claudius  Ctesar,  by  secretly  mix- 
ing a  poisonous  nrasliroom  witli  your  food.  Therefore, 
be  on  your  guard.  If  you  are  hungry,  eat  at  home  of 
the  food  that  your  own  cook  has  prepared,  for  outside 
of  your  own  house  you  can  nowhere  eat  without  danger. 
There  are  people  living  within  the  walls  of  Zürich  who 
would  do  everything  in  their  power  to  destroy  you. 
Take  care,  dearest  Ulrich,  beloved  of  God,  take  the 
T)est  care  of  yourself  ;  and  again  I  say,  beware  of  these 
murderous  eunuchs,  and  believe  me  that  all  victuals  not 
prepared  in  your  own  house  are  poisoned  ;  for  you  are 
nowhere  safe  ;  danger  threatens  you  from  every  side. 
And  now  as  to  the  sources  whence  I  have  derived  this 
knowledge,  and  as  to  the  oracle  that  has  revealed  it  to 
me,  it  is  not  necessary  for  you  to  know  ;  it  speaks  more 
truly  than   did  the  oracle   of  Delphjs.      Yet  it?  priest 


ATTEMPTS    AT    MUltDEK.  141 

dare  not  publicly  reveal  it.  Your  plain  understanding 
will  naturally  lead  you  to  suspect  whence  tliat  comes 
whicli  I  have  not  been  willini]^  to  conceal  from  you, 
because  of  the  regard  and  the  fraternal  love  I  entertain 
for  you.  In  great  haste  from  Swabia.  Whoever  I  am,  1 
am  yours.  Tou  will  learn  to  know  me  in  due  course  of 
time." 

A  letter  similar  to  the  above  was  also  received  from 
Constance.  Zwingli  referred  the  matter  to  the  Council 
of  Zürich,  which  body  immediately  applied  to  the 
authorities  of  the  former  city  for  an  investigation.  But 
the  conspirators  were  never  discovered.  Myconius  re- 
lates :  "Not  an  hour  passed  but  that  priests  and  lay- 
men concocted  conspiracies  of  the  worst  kind  against  this 
defender  of  virtue  and  truth."  And  again  he  narrates  : 
*'  When  priests  and  monks  had  been  overthrown  and  the 
resolution  of  the  legislative  Grand  Council  (of  Zürich) 
had  been  enforced  against  the  pensioners,  recourse  was 
had  to  intrigues  to  do  away,  if  possible,  with  this  hated 
man.  I  pass  over  those  conspiracies  that  remained  con- 
cealed to  the  world,  but  which  I  shall  never  forget  ;  I 
will  mention  only  those  that  are  well  known.  At  one 
time  a  person  called  at  midnight  at  Zwingli' s  residence 
to  call  him  to  the  bed  of  a  dying  man.  Zwingli's  vicar 
replied  that  hie  master,  fatigued  by  the  labors  of  the 
day,  could  not  be  aroused  at  this  time,  and  offered  to 
go  in  his  stead.  The  caller  would  not  accept  of  this, 
and  by  reason  of  his  obstinate  refusal  excited  the  suspicion 
of  a  secret  conspiracy.  Under  the  pretext  of  informing 
Zwingli,  the  vicar  locked  the  doors,  leaving  the  inquirer 
standing  on  the  outside.  On  the  following  morning  it 
was  reported  that  it  was  intended  to  gag  Zwingli,  place 
him  in  a  boat,  and  thus  secretly  abduct  him.  A  few 
M-ecks  later  a  horse  was  held  in  readiness  with  a  similar 


143  TUE    LIFE   OF    ULlllC    ZWIMGLI. 

aim  in  view.  Still  later  tliero  wiis  sccii  openly  walking 
about  the  city  of  Ziiricli  an  assassin — reported  to  liave 
been  a  native  of  Zug — who  intended  to  slay  Zwingli  in 
the  streets.  lie  was  betrayed,  apprehended,  but  escaped 
from  confinement.  Two  natives  of  Zürich,  whose  names 
I  conceal,  attacked  Zwingli's  house  by  night,  demolished 
the  windows  with  stones,  and  by  their  cursing  and  stone- 
throwing  occasioned  such  a  fearful,  scandalous,  and  in- 
human noise  that  the  neighbors  did  not  dare  open  their 
windows.  Nor  did  they  cease  their  tumult  until  their 
supply  of  stones,  voice,  and  strength  had  been  ex- 
hausted. Complaint  was  made  to  the  burgomaster  of 
the  city.  In  the  morning  the  gates  were  locked.  Arm- 
ed men  vainly  sought  the  disturbers  of  the  peace  in 
every  corner  of  the  city.  At  last  some  women,  through 
their  loquacity,  betrayed  one  of  the  offenders  ;  the 
other  had  fled.  The  former  was  pulled  out  of  the  wine- 
barrel  of  a  certain  priest  and  carried  to  jail.  After  long- 
continued  deliberations  he  was  condemned  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  but  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  he  was 
released  from  jail,  at  the  request  of  the  authorities  of 
Berne.  Zwingli  often  of  an  evening  supped  at  the 
house  of  a  trusty  friend,  or  at  an  inn.  On  his  return 
home  he  was  nearly  always  accompanied  by  trustwoi'tliy 
citizens,  in  order  that  no  evil  might  befall  him.  And 
the  Council  of  the  city  ordered  his  house  to  be  guarded 
at  night  during  these  dangerous  times." 

Another  attempt  to  murder  Zwingli  is  mentioned  by 
Jodocus  Kilchmeier,  of  Luzerne,  in  a  letter  to  Zwingli, 
written  the  same  year,  1522  :  "  It  is  reported  that,  not 
long  ago,  two  monks,  pretending  to  interrogate  you  con- 
cerning certain  religious  questions,  demanded  very  bois- 
terously that  you  should  visit  Luzenie.  Your  readiness 
to  serve  everybody  inclined  you  to  promise  it,  but  your 


ATTEMPTS    AT    MURDER.  143 

vicar  is  said  to  have  reminded  yon  that  jou  ought  not, 
especially  at  night,  to  leave  j'^our  dwelling  at  the  impor- 
tunate demand  of  every  one  ;  but  that  he  would  first  re- 
connoitre, so  that  you  might  not,  during  these  troublous 
times,  fall  into  any  life-imperilling  snare.  You  are  re- 
ported to  have  followed  this  advice,  and  to  have  remained 
at  home.  As  soon  as  your  vicar  left  the  house  he  was 
seized,  under  the  impression  that  it  was  yourself  (Zwin- 
gli),  and,  threatened  with  death,  carried  off.  But  his 
voice  betrayed  him,  and  perceiving  their  error,  his  assail- 
ants hurriedly  fled,  in  order  not  to  be  apprehended,  and 
thus  themselves  to  fall  into  the  pit  prepared  for  you." 

Since  the  time  of  the  two  disputations  of  Zürich,  tlie 
friends  of  the  Reformation  in  Switzerland  looked  more 
than  ever  to  this  city  for  support,  so  beneficial  were  the 
results  of  these  conferences.  Yet,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  more  energetically  did  the  enemies  of  the  cause 
labor,  and  but  awaited  the  secret  alliances  which  were 
being  formed  among  the  Swiss  Confederates.  In  some 
way  Zwingli  must  be  removed  ;  nntil  this  were  accom- 
plished they  would  not  rest  content.  To  this  end 
another  disputation  should  be  held,  yet  not  indeed  at 
any  place  friendly  to  the  cause  of  the  Reformation,  but 
rather  in  some  purely  Roman  Catholic  city,  in  order  that 
their  end  might  be  gained.  The  general  vicar  of  the 
Bishop  of  Constance,  John  Faber,  and  the  notorious  Dr. 
Eck,  a  valiant  defender  of  the  Pope,  Archduke  Ferdi- 
nand of  Austria,  as  well  as  the  higher  clergy,  labored  to 
create  among  the  people  a  desire  for  a  public  disputation 
concerning  the  doctrines  as  held  by  the  Roman  Church. 
Zwingli  and  the  Council  of  Zürich,  to  whom  the  murder- 
ous designs  as  connected  with  this  proposed  disputation 
were  unknown,  were  at  first  greatly  inclined  to  favor 
this  plan.     Indeed  the  Council  sent  Dr.  Eck  a  letter  of 


iii  THE    LIFE    OF    ULlllC    Z\VIXüLr. 

sufo-conduct,  and  invited  him  in  a  very  friendly  manner 
to  clioo^e  Zürich  as  the  place  of  dispntation.  But  since 
tlie  murderous  plans  of  Faber  and  Eck  could  not  well 
h^v'e  succeeded  in  the  Kefomied  city  of  Zürich,  Eck  de- 
clined the  extended  invitation,  well  knowing  that  the 
Swiss  Diet  would  appoint  the  j^apal  city  of  Baden,  in 
Aargau,  as  the  place  of  meeting.  Accordingly  the  Swiss 
Diet,  which  well  knew  that  the  five  Eoman  Catholic 
cantons — Uri,  Schwyz,  TJnterwalden,  Zug,  and  Luzerne 
— held  the  controlling  influence  in  Baden,  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  all  Switzerland,  appointed  the  disputation  to 
take  place  on  the  16th  of  May,  1526,  at  Baden,  in  Aargau, 
where  long  before  this  Zwingli's  teachings  had  been 
persecuted  by  fire  and  sword  !  In  Luzerne,  before  this 
conference  was  held,  pictures  of  Zwingli  were  burned. 
In  Freiburg  his  writings  were  destroyed  by  fire.  Every- 
where within  the  jui'isdiction  of  the  canton  to  which 
Baden  belonged  it  was  publicly  declared  that  Zwingli 
would  be  arrested  should  he  set  foot  upon  the  territory. 
One  of  their  prominent  leaders,  named  Ueberlinger, 
boasted  that  he  would  be  willing  to  be  called  a  hangman 
the  remainder  of  his  days  could  he  but  have  the  wished- 
for  opportunity  of  hanging  Zwingli  ! 

All  this  reached  the  ears  of  Zwingli  and  of  the  Council 
of  Zürich  in  due  time.  From  different  quarters  faithful 
warnings  Vv'ere  received.  Dr.  Eck,  who  for  many  years 
had  made  the  extermination  of  heretics  with  fire  and 
sword  the  subject  of  public  and  private  addresses,  sent 
Zwingli  a  letter  of  safe-conduct,  but  which  was  so 
cunningly  worded  that  Zwingli  could  have  been  law- 
fully arrested  upon  his  arrival  in  Baden.  For  a  clause 
in  this  letter  declared  that  protection  should  only  then 
be  afforded  him  if  he  were  found  worthy  of  it  !  Xo 
doubt  the  confession  of  evangelical   truth  would  have 


ATTEMPTS   AT   MURDER.  145 

been  regarded  as  iinwortliy  ])eliavior,  and — Zwingli 
would  have  been  put  to  death.  In  fact,  bloody  sacrifices 
already  proclaimed  the  fate  that  awaited  Zwingli  should 
he  appear  in  Baden  !  A  consistory,  with  Faber  at  the 
head,  a  week  before  the  appointed  disputation,  con- 
demned an  evangelical  minister,  named  John  Hiigle,  to 
be  executed  as  a  heretic.  On  his  way  to  the  place  of 
execution  he  sang  the  first  verse  of  one  of  Luther's 
hymns  : 

"  Lord  God,  thy  praise  we  sing  ;  Lord  God,  our  thanks  we  bring  ; 
Father  in  eternity,  all  the  world  worships  Thee. 
Angels  all  and  heavenly  host  of  thy  glorj'  loudly  boast  ; 
Both  cherubim  and  seraphim  sing  ever  with  loud  voice  this  hymn  : 
Holy  art  thou,  our  God,  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth. " 

Peter  Sprugler,  pastor  at  Freiburg,  was  drowned  at 
the  command  of  the  Bishop  of  Constance.  Everywhere 
murmurings  were  heard  :  Zwingli  would  be  seized  and 
carried  off  should  he  appear  in  Baden.  Upon  hearing 
such  reports  Zwingli  arose  in  the  Council  of  Zürich  and 
said  :  "  Ye  know  how  the  brave  men  of  Stammheim 
were  treated  in  Baden,  and  how  their  blood  flowed  upon 
the  scaffold.  To  this  place  of  execution  they  invite  us 
to  assemble.  Let  them  choose  Zürich,  Berne,  St.  Gall, 
Basel,  Constance,  or  Schaffhausen  !  Let  none  but  im- 
portant questions  be  discussed  ;  let  nothing  but  the 
Word  of  God  be  acknowledged  as  the  supreme  judica- 
tory ;  and  then  I  will  be  inclined  to  appear  at  the  dis- 
putation. "  The  Council  thereupon  decided  that  Zwingli 
should  not  go  to  Baden,  and  thus  the  cunningly  devised 
plan  of  Zwingli's  assassination  was  brought  to  naught. 

The  opening  of  the  appointed  disputation  was  defer- 
red until  the  21st  of  May,  when,  it  being  Whitsunday, 
it  was  opened  with  gi'eat  pomp  and  splendor.  During 
the  disputation  messengers  informed  Zwingli  of  its  prog- 


14G  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

res5,  mid  tliu  representatives  of  the  cause  of  the  Befor- 
inatioii  were  enabled  to  give  a  good  account  of  their 
faith  and  mightily  to  refute  the  errors  of  the  enemy. 
Zwingli's  teachings  triumphed.  Schaffhausen,  Basel, 
Berne,  St.  Gall,  and  Appenzell  received  the  new  doc- 
trines with  favor.  In  vain  did  Thomas  Murner,  monk 
at  Luzerne,  prepare  himself  solemnly  to  declare  Zwingli 
the  heretic  to  be  a  conquered  perjurer,  liar,  adulterer, 
unbeliever,  thief,  etc.  ;  in  vain  did  he  picture  him  as 
already  hanging  upon  the  gallows  !  The  whole  progress 
of  the  conference  plainly  showed  that  the  E-oman  Catho- 
lics had  prepared  to  celebrate  a  great  victory.  But  in 
this  they  were  disajDpointed.  This  the  papal  party 
perceived,  and  indulged  their  wrath  in  verbal  and  writ- 
ten denunciations  ;  and  since  they  could  not  ajjprehend 
Zwingli,  they  excluded  Zürich,  Basel,  and  St.  Gall  from 
the  confederation. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


THE   MARBURG     CONFERENCE. 


At  the  Diet  of  Spire,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1529,  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  Protestantism  received  a  defi- 
nite form  and  a  final  acknowledgment.  This  victory  of 
the  Word  of  God,  which  alone  was  at  stake,  excited  the 
Roman  Catholic  party  to  devise  some  counter  movement 
to  overthrow  Protestantism.  An  alliance  among  all 
Protestants  seemed  to  be  necessary,  and  would  have  been 
accomplished  but  for  the  opposition  of  Luther.  Philip 
of  Hesse  was  greatly  annoyed  at  this,  and  said  :  "  On 
account  of  the  Zwinglians,  no  union  is  desired  by  some  ; 
let  us  then  remove  the  differences  between  the  two  par- 
ties."  Such  an  alliance  seemed  to  be  indispensable  to 
the  growth  of  Protestantism.  '^  It  is  necessary,"  writes 
Landgrave  Philip,  of  Hesse,  in  the  year  1529,  to  the 
Elector  John,  of  Saxony,  "  that  we  do  not  permit  our- 
selves to  be  so  shamefully  divided,  although  our  learned 
theologians  are  not  agreed  upon  some  points  that  are 
either  unimportant  or  else  debatable,  and  upon  which 
our  faith  and  salvation  do  not  dejDend."  In  these  beau- 
tiful words  the  noble  Landgrave  pointed  out  the  way 
which  he  was  inclined  to  j)ursue  in  the  reformatory  re- 
generation of  his  principahty.  It  was  owing  to  him 
that,  at  the  imperial  Diet  of  Spire,  all  the  cities  which 
"were  friends  and  adherents  of  Zwingli  were  not  sacrificed 
to  the  demands  of  the  Roman  Catholic  majority. 

Moreover,  since  at  that  time  the  civil  polity  wafl  under 


148  TJIK    hlFK    OV    ULKIC    ZWINGLI. 

tlio  control  of  tlic  prevailing  tlieology,  there  was  but  one 
course  for  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse  to  pursue  :  to  effect 
a  reconciliation  by  bringing  together  the  Lutheran  and 
the  Eeformed  representatives.  If  existing  circumstances 
hud  not  been  so  unfavorable,  Landgrave  Philip  would 
have  appointed  a  meeting  for  the  year  1528,  but  he 
postponed  it  until  1529.  Melanchthon  had  already  been 
M'on  over  to  Philip's  views  to  such  an  extent  that  he  de- 
clared the  differences  between  the  two  churches  to  be  of 
no  great  consequence.  This  encouraged  the  Landgrave, 
who  now  turned  to  Zwingli  and  requested  him  to  accept 
the  invitation  to  a  mutual  conference  with  the  Lutheran 
party.  Zwingli,  whose  heart  longed  for  peace  between 
the  churches,  thanked  the  Landgrave  for  his  exertions 
on  behalf  of  the  Church's  welfare,  and  promised  to  come. 
Luther  did  not  favor  the  conference,  nor  was  Melanch- 
thon much  inclined  to  go.  But  since  the  Elector  of 
Saxony  desired  them  to  attend,  they  consented  and  went, 
sending  him  the  following  declaration  :  "If  the  Swiss 
do  not  yield,  then  all  your  trouble  is  in  vain." 

Zwingli,  on  the  other  hand,  would  not  avoid  a  discus- 
sion concerning  the  doctrine  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  lie 
desired  to  see  and  to  meet  Luther,  And  the  progress  of 
the  disputation  showed  that  he  Vas  well  furnished  with 
arguments  out  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  well-grounded  in 
dogmatic  theology,  and  well  acquainted  with  the  writings 
of  the  old  Church  fathers.  lie  was  never  at  loss  for 
an  answer.  He  stood  completely  upon  the  immovable 
foundation  of  the  Divine  Word. 

Zwingli  sought  permission  from  the  Council  of  Zürich 
to  undertake  the  journey  to  Marburg.  "  I  am  con- 
vinced," said  he,  "  when  we  doctors  shall  meet,  the  light 
of  truth  will  enlighten  our  eyes."  But  the  Council 
would  not  give  its  consent,  for  it  did  not  wish  to  sec  its 


THE    ilARBURG    CONFERENCE.  149 

beloved  pastor  go  on  so  remote  a  journey.  Zwingli, 
however,  who  had  entertained  great  expectations  from 
the  results  of  this  conference  in  the  interests  of  the 
peace  of  the  Church,  could  not  and  would  not  remain  at 
home.  Fastening  his  gaze  upon  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
all  Christendom,  he  hfted  up  his  eyes,  filled  with  scald- 
ing tears,  and  prayed  :  "  O  God,  Thou  that  hast  never 
forsaken  me,  Thy  will  be  done,  to  Thine  own  honor  and 
glory."  He  then  prepared  himself  for  the  journey. 
But  because  of  his  enemies,  who  still  souglit  his  ruin,  he 
was  obliged  to  keep  his  departure  a  secret.  Not  even 
his  wife  knew  whither  he  was  going.  Rudolph  Collin, 
professor  of  the  Greek  language,  accompanied  him.  On 
the  night  of  the  31st  of  August  they  mounted  their 
horses  and  set  out  for  Basel.  When  his  enemies  heard 
of  his  departure  they  rejoiced.  Some  said  the  devil  had 
visited  him  and  carried  him  oif.  Others  said  that  he 
left  the  city  in  company  with  several  rogues.  To  the 
Councils  of  the  city  he  wrote  :  "If  I  depart  without 
notifying  you  beforehand,  this  will  happen  not  because 
I  do  not  respect  and  honor  you,  but  because  I  know 
your  love  to  me,  and  that  your  concern  on  my  account 
would  hinder  my  departure." 

On  Tuesday,  September  6th,  Zwingli,  accompanied 
by  Oekolampad  and  other  friends  of  the  Reformation, 
left  Basel  on  board  of  a  boat,  descended  the  Rhine  and 
reached  Strassburg  in  tliirteen  hours.  Here  they 
sojourned  at  the  house  of  the  dean  of  the  cathedral, 
Pastor  Matthias  Zell,  whose  wife,  after  attending  to 
their  wants,  seated  herself  at  the  feet  of  the  two  Reform- 
ers, to  hear  the  Word  of  Salvation.  Zwingli  found  her 
to  be  so  intelligent  a  woman  that  he  ranked  her  higher 
than  many  of  the  learned  doctors. 

From  Strassburg  Zwingli  and  Oekolampad  continued 


150  THE    LIFE    OF    L'LRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

tlieir  journey  in  all  quietnesa,  accompanied  by  forty 
Hessian  hoi"semen,  and  reached  Marburg  on  Wednesday, 
September  29tli.  The  next  day  Luther  arrived.  In 
order  tliat  the  Reformers  might  become  more  intimately 
acquainted  with  one  another,  the  Landgrave  had  ar- 
ranged that  Luther  and  Oekolampad,  Zwingli  and  Me- 
lanchthon,  sliould  hold  a  private  conference  concerning 
the  questions  in  controversy  before  beginning  the  jjublic 
discussion.  Accordingly  on  the  1st  of  October,  after  the 
morning  service  had  been  held,  these  four  men  met  in 
pairs  and  conferred  in  separate  rooms.  After  the  lapse 
of  three  hours  they  were  called  to  dinner.  That  finish- 
ed, Zwingli  and  Melanchthon  continued  their  conference, 
but  not  Luther  and  Oekolampad,  The  latter  complained 
of  the  treatment  he  had  received  from  Luther,  and  enter- 
tained no  hope  of  union  because  of  tliis. 

Zwingli  demanded  that  the  conference  should  be  open 
to  every  one,  Luther  opposed  this,  and  would  not  con- 
sent to  the  presence  of  representatives  from  Frankfort, 
Strassburg,  Basel,  and  from  other  Swiss  cities,  as  well  as 
from  the  Rhine  region.  As  Zwingli  relates,  there  were 
but  twenty-four  persons  present.  On  Saturday,  the  2d 
of  October,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  conference 
was  opened  in  the  great  hall  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Castle,  at  Marburg,  The  Itessian  Chancellor,  Feige, 
opened  and  conducted  the  proceedings,  and  in  the  name  of 
the  Landgrave  reminded  every  one  again  ^'  to  seek  every 
possible  way  and  means  through  which  this  burdensome 
and  injurious  division  may  be  speedily  ended,  and  they 
all  brought  together  again  to  steadfast  unity,"  Luther 
was  not  altogether  inclined  to  comply  with  this  wish,  and 
in  reply  to  the  above  reminder  he  wrote  with  chalk,  in 
large  letters,  upon  the  table  at  which  he,  Melanchthon, 
Zwingli,   and  Oekolampad    were    seated,    these    words  : 


THE  MARBURQ  CONFERENCE.  151 

"This    is    my    body."     All    were    astonished    at    this 
action. 

The  Hessian  chancellor  once  more  requested  all  pres- 
ent not  to  overlook  the  wish  of  the  Landgrave.  But 
Luther  replied  :  "  I  solemnly  declare  that  I  differ  from 
ray  opponents  on  the  doctrine  of  the  Lord' s  Supper,  and 
that  I  will  continue  to  differ  !"  And  to  this  declaration 
he  practically  adhered.  Before  touching  upon  the 
Lord's  Supper,  Luther  sought  to  include  all  the  other 
Christian  doctrines  within  the  range  of  the  discussion  ; 
but  Zwingli  insisted  that  the  conference  should  be  con- 
fined to  the  doctrine  concerning  the  Holy  Sacrament. 
Luther  then  began  the  discussion  by  declaring  that  it 
was  necessary  to  abide  by  the  very  letter  of  the  words 
of  institution.  Oekolampad  replied  that  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  receive  all  the  declarations  of  Christ  liter- 
ally ;  thus,  for  example  :  "I  am  the  true  vine,  and  my 
father  is  the  husbandman,"  "1  am  the  door  of  the 
sheep,"  "  John  is  Elias,"  "  The  seven  good-  and  the 
seven  ill-favored  kine  are  each  seven  years,"  "  Christ 
is  the  rock,"  "This  is  my  body.''  Luther  conceded 
that  many  passages  of  Scripture  are  to  be  taken  spiritu- 
ally, but  not  so  the  passage  touching  the  Lord's  Supper. 
Oekolampad  reminded  him  of  John  6  :  63  :  "  It  is  the 
Spirit  that  quickeneth  :  the  flesh  pro fitetli  nothing,"  and 
added  :  "  What  Christ  here  rejects  he  cannot  approve  in 
the  Holy  Sacrament."  Luther  refused  to  continue  the 
consideration  of  this  passage,  pointed  to  his  chalk  writ- 
ing, and  maintained  that  when  God  speaks  man  must 
believe  and  not  criticise.  Oekolampad  desired  to  know, 
since  man  received  a  spiritual  benefit  by  partaking  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  what  further  special  benefit  the  oral  re- 
ception would  impart  ?  Luther  declined  a  direct  answer, 
but  replied  :  "  If  God  should  command  me  to  eat  dung. 


lÖ'i  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLT. 

I  M'ouUl  do  it  ;  it  would  certainly  be  wholesome  to  me  I 
We  must  believe,  and  do  it.     We  must  do  it." 

At  this  point  Zwingli  took  up  the  discussion  with  Lu- 
ther, and  emphasized  the  statement  that  Scripture  must 
be  explained  by  Scripture,  and  hence  Christ's  words  of 
institution  of  the  Sacrament  must  be  intei-preted  accord- 
ing to  John  6  :  63.  Luther  again  pointed  to  his  writing, 
and  simply  said:  "This  is  my  body."  Zwingli  en- 
joined him  to  cease  repeating  this  same  remark.  Land- 
grave Philip,  perceiving  that  his  attempts  at  union 
were  in  danger,  intimated  his  approval  of  Zwingli's  ex- 
planation.    The  whole  jaarty  then  proceeded  to  dinner. 

At  the  afternoon  session  Zwingli  read  Luther's  and 
Melanchthon's  published  spiritual  interpretation  of 
John  6  :  63,  to  show  that  both  agreed  with  him  in  teach- 
ing a  spiritual  reception  or  benefit.  Straightway  Luther 
and  Melanchthon  disavowed  this  explanation,  and  main- 
tained :  "  As  soon  as  the  words  of  institution  have  been 
spoken,  the  body  is  present,  no  matter  how  bad  the 
priest  may  be  that  utters  the  words."  It  was  evening, 
and  the  conference  adjourned — without  result. 

On  the  following  day,  Sunday,  October  3d,  the  dis- 
cussion was  resumed  at  the  point  where  it  was  broken  olf 
on  the  previous  day.  Zwingli  called  upon  Luther  to 
prove  how  a  body  could  be  in  different  places  at  the 
same  time,  for  the  latter  had  made  this  statement. 
Luther  continued  to  repeat:  "This  is  my  body." 
Zwingli  grew  weary  of  this  repetition.  He  had  sought 
to  prove  the  spiritual  benefit  of  the  Sacrament,  accord- 
ing to  exegetical  rules,  from  the  scriptures,  and  from 
Katural  Philosophy.  n.e  now  adduced  the  Church 
fathers  in  evidence.  He  quoted  the  declarations  of 
Fulgentius  about  the  natures  of  Christ  ;  then  also  a 
citation    from    Augustine.     Luther    responded  :     "  The 


J 


THE  MAUBUKG  COXFEUENCE.  153 

body  of  Christ  is  present  in  the  Lord's  Supper,  but  not 
as  in  a  place,"  i.e.  locally.  It  was  now  noon.  Oeko- 
lampad  summed  up  the  result  of  the  morning's  confer- 
ence, claiming  that,  if  the  body  of  Christ  were  not  local- 
ly present  in  the  Sacrament,  then  it  is  not  a  real  body, 
and  that  thus  Luther  had  refuted  his  own  previous  state- 
ments. 

After  dinner  the  conference  was  continued.  Oeko- 
larapad  began  the  discussion  with  the  remark  that, 
since  Luther  had  conceded  that  the  body  of  Christ  is  not 
locally  present  in  the  Sacrament,  they  would  now  in  all 
kindness  proceed  to  investigate  the  manner  of  the  pres- 
ence of  Christ's  body.  To  this  Luther  replied  :  "  You 
will  not  drive  me  a  step  further.  If  you  have  Fulgen- 
tius  and  Augustine  with  you,  then  we  have  all  the  other 
Church  fathers  with  us."  Luther  was  asked  to  name 
them.  "  We  shall  not  name  them,"  was  his  reply  ; 
and,  lifting  the  table-cover,  he  pointed  to  his  writing 
and  exclaimed  :  "  Behold,  thus  reads  the  passage  ;  you 
have  not  driven  us  from  it,  as  you  have  boasted  ;  we 
care  nothing  for  other  evidence."  It  was  in  vain  to 
continue  the  conference  ;  the  discussion  was  at  an  end. 
The  frightened  chancellor  implored  them  to  come  to  an 
agreement  before  separating.  Luther  replied  :  "I  know 
of  but  one  means  to  secure  this  :  let  our  opponents 
believe  as  we  believe."  "  That  we  cannot  do,"  re- 
turned Oekolampad.  "  Then  I  will  leave  you  to  the 
judgment  of  God,  and  pray  that  He  may  enlighten 
you,"  responded  Luther.  "  We  shall  do  likewise,"  an- 
swered Oekolampad.  During  this  time  Zwingli  stood 
silent,  deeply  moved,  and  shed  tears  in  the  presence  of 
all.  Landgrave  Philip  accepted  the  teachings  of  Zwin- 
gli. At  the  close  of  the  conference  he  desired  that  they 
should  recognize  one  another  as  brethren.     Thereupon 


154  TUE    Ul'K    OF   ULKIC    ZWINGLI. 

Zwingli,  bathed  in  tears,  extended  to  Luther  the  hand 
of  peace.  To  the  surprise  of  every  one,  Luther  refused 
to  accept  tlic  proffered  hand,  remarking  :  ' '  You  have  a 
different  spirit."  "We  are  conscious  of  having  acted 
from  pure  motives  ;  posterity  will  testify  to  this,"  replied 
the  Swiss  representatives.  On  the  5th  of  October  they 
left  Marburg.     Luther  also  returned  home. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


THE    FIRST    WAR    OF    KAPPEL. 


The  cause  of  the  Reformation  now  controlled  the  can- 
tons of  Zürich,  Berne,  Basel,  St.  Gall,  Schaffhausen,  Gla- 
rus,  Appenzell,  and  the  free  districts.  These  formed  an 
alliance,  to  the  chagrin  of  the  Pope,  the  bishops,  and  the 
Roman  Catholic  element  of  the  population.  In  fact,  the 
Roman  Catholic  party  now  exerted  itself  to  the  utmost 
to  suppress  the  Gospel  in  the  territory  under  their  juris- 
diction. The  Bishop  of  Constance  issued  a  pastoral 
letter  enjoining  them  to  remain  good  Catholics,  and  to 
defend  themselves  bravely,  otherwise  all  Switzerland 
would  soon  become  Reformed.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
Reformed  cantons  were  all  the  more  zealous  on  behalf  of 
the  Evangelical  cause.  Canton  Zürich,  alternately  with 
the  five  Roman  Catholic  cantons  of  Zug,  TJri,  Schwyz 
and  Luzerne,  administered  the  government  for  a  period 
of  two  years  in  Thurgau  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Rhine. 
Under  the  Reformed  governors  appointed  by  Zürich  these 
districts  enjoyed  the  free  exercise  of  religion,  whereas 
under  the  Roman  Catholic  governors  they  were  badly 
oppressed.  Thus,  under  Joseph  am  Berg,  of  Schwyz, 
and  Jacob  Strack,  of  Zug,  the  Reformed  allies  were  great- 
ly abused.  They  were  fined,  imprisoned,  and  tortured. 
One  of  the  Reformed  preachers  had  his  tongue  cut  off, 
some  were  beheaded,  and  others  burned  at  the  stake.  All 
copies  of  the  Bible,  wherever  found,  were  thrown  into  the 
fire.     In  the  old  treaties,  concluded  before  the  Reforma- 


156  THE    LIFE    OP    ULRK;    ZWIifOLI. 

tion,  no  mentioTi  wiis  made  of  religion.  Hence  the 
people  of  Ziiricli  demanded  that  tlie  civil  governors 
should  discharge  the  functions  of  the  secular  government, 
hut  should  not  concern  themselves  about  matters  of  re- 
»ligious  belief.  The  Catholics  maintained,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  during  the  two  years  of  their  administration 
they  could  do  as  they  pleased.  Hence  dangerous  con- 
troversies ensued  ■which  must  lead  to  war.  Fraternal 
hatred  was  carried  so  far  that  the  four  forest  cantons 
completely  ignored  the  battles  of  Murten,  Laupen,  Mor- 
garten,  Sempach,  Näfels,  etc.,  in  forming  an  alliance  with 
their  ancient  enemies,  the  Austrians,  who  were  defeated 
in  the  above-named  battles  and  thereby  expelled  from 
Switzerland.  Even  the  imperial  party  were  astounded 
at  this  act,  which  was  regarded  by  some  as  infamous 
treason  to  the  Fatherland.  Universal  sorrow  filled  the 
land.  The  Reformed  assembled  in  Zürich  and  sent  am- 
bassadors to  the  Catholic  cantons  offering  reconciliation. 
But  they  were  everywhere  badly  received,  especially  in 
Unterwaiden,  and  returned  to  Zürich.  The  treaty  with 
Austria  contained  this  clause  :  "  Whoever  originates 
new  sects  shall  be  punished  by  death.  If  it  be  necessary, 
Austria  will  assist  in  executing  the  law. ' '  Carried  away 
by  this  condition  of  the  treaty,  the  people  of  the  four 
forest  cantons  wantonly  broke  the  Federal  peace. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1529,  Pastor  Jacob  Kaiser  went 
to  Oberkirchen,  intending  to  preach.  In  passing  through 
a  forest  he  was  beset  by  six  Roman  Catholics,  dragged 
away  to  Schwyz,  and  on  the  26th  of  May  condemned 
to  death  at  the  stake.  In  vain  did  Zürich  and  Glarus 
interpose  on  his  behalf.  He  died  the  death  of  a  martyr, 
joyfully  confessing  his  Lord  at  the  stake.  That  was  the 
signal  to  a  premeditated  war,  which  soon  broke  out. 
A  cry  of  anger  rang  out  through  all  Switzerland.     Zwin- 


THE   FIEST   WAR    OF    KAPPEL.  157 

gli  foresaw  tliat  peace  could  no  longer  be  maintained. 
He  regarded  it  to  be  an  imperative  duty  to  put  an  end 
to  the  uncertain  condition  of  affairs  on  account  of  which 
so  many  innocent  persons  were  obliged  to  suffer. 
Hence  he  declared  himself  publicly  in  Zürich,  and  also 
wrote  to  his  friends  in  Berne  :  "  The  existing  peace 
which  many  continue  to  favor  is  really  war  ;  the  war 
tliat  I  desire  is  peace.  There  is  no  security  for  the  truth, 
nor  any  safety  for  its  confessors,  unless  the  very  pillars 
of  tyrannical  government  are  overthrown.  Undoubtedly 
we  are  called  upon  to  tnist  in  God  alone,  but  we  are  also 
called  upon  to  defend  our  righteous  cause,  and,  like 
Gideon  and  Joshua,  pour  out  our  blood  for  God  and 
Fatherland." 

Upon  Zwingli  lay  the  burden  of  the  welfare  of  Church 
and  Fatherland.  His  highest  aim  was  to  secure  the  free- 
dom of  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  throughout  all  Switz- 
erland. A  few  days  after  the  death  of  Pastor  Kaiser 
throngs  of  refugees  arrived  in  Zürich  from  the  oppressed 
districts.  Canton  Unterwaiden,  supported  by  Austria, 
had  declared  w^ar  against  the  free  provinces  and  de- 
spatched an  armed  force  against  them  under  the  com- 
mand of  Ahaber,  of  Unterwaiden.  Whereupon  Canton 
Zürich  declared  war  against  Scliwyz.  In  this  declara- 
tion of  war  the  following  causes  were  assigned  :  That 
the  Reformed  had  been  persecuted  without  right  or 
reason  ;  that  the  Confederate  treaties  of  peace  were  no 
longer  respected  ;  and  that  Pastor  Kaiser  had  been 
burned  at  the  stake.  A  force  of  500  men  with  four  guns 
was  sent  from  Zürich  to  meet  Ahaber  at  Bremgarten, 
and  to  j^rotect  the  free  provinces  in  their  religious  liber- 
ties. Zurich's  banner  waved  over  cloister  Muri.  Tiie 
war  had  begun.  Roman  Catholics  confronted  Reformed 
in  battle  array. 


1J3  tup:  life  of  uluic  znixGLi. 

A  force  of  GOO  men  from  Ziiricli  niarclied  upon  Eap- 
perschwjl,  and  another  of  400,  commanded  by  Captain 
George  Berber,  and  accompanied  hj  Chaplain  Conrad 
Schmidt,  of  Küssnacht,  advanced  upon  KappeL  Upon 
this  Zwingli  declared  :  "  Since  my  brethren  risk  their 
o^^^l  lives  in  the  conflict,  I  shall  not  remain  seated  alone 
at  the  hearthstone  ;"  and,  seizing  his  halberd  he 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to  the  seat  of  war.  Zürich 
a2')pealed  to  Berne  for  assistance.  But  envy  at  Zurich's 
growing  influence  inspired  this  reply  :  "  Alone  ye 
began  the  conflict  ;  see  ye  to  it  how  ye  shall  end  it." 
The  Homan  Cathohcs,  on  the  contrary,  proceeded 
differently.  As  soon  as  Canton  Zug  issued  its  appeal  for 
assistance,  Schwyz,  Luzerne,  Uri,  and  ITnterwalden  re- 
sponded and  hastened  to  extend  the  required  aid.  The 
army  of  Zürich,  about  1000  strong,  stood  in  battle  array 
before  Zug.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  the  army  of  the 
latter  to  notify  them  that  they  (Zürich)  were  ready  for 
the  conflict.  But  the  forces  of  Zug  were  dismayed 
because  they  were  not  yet  ready  for  battle.  By  subter- 
fuge Zug  sought  to  gain  time  in  order  to  strengthen  its 
forces.  A  messenger  is  sent  to  Kappel.  The  army  of 
Zürich  is  on  the  point  of  advancing  into  the  territory  of 
Zug.  At  that  moment  they  behold  a  horseman  riding 
in  great  haste  from  the  direction  of  Baar.  It  was  Aebh, 
the  chief  magistrate  of  Glarus.  He  had  returned  to  ask 
for  a  truce,  with  a  view  to  peace  negotiations,  on  be- 
half of  his  own  enemies  !  The  latter  had  impressed  him 
with  their  expressed  sorrow  at  the  prospect  of  bloodshed 
when  there  was  really  nothing  in  the  way  to  hinder  their 
living  together  in  peace.  The  kind-hearted  Aebli  did  not 
perceive  that  their  object  was  to  gain  time  to  secure  rein- 
forcements. But  his  intercession  for  the  enemy  met 
■with  a  favorable  response.     Zwingli,  however,  penetrated 


THE    FrKST   WAU   OF    KAPPEL.  159 

tlieir  designs,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  officers  of  the 
army  said  to  Aebli  :  "  Father  Magistrate,  God  will  call 
you  to  account  for  this  proposed  intercession.  Our  ene- 
mies are  in  a  dilemma,  hence  they  favor  us  with  kind 
words.  A  little  later  on,  when  they  are  fully  prepared, 
they  will  suddenly  surprise  us  with  an  attack,  and  then 
no  one  will  intercede  for  them."  To  this  Aebli  replied  : 
"  Dear  Father,  I  trust  in  God  that  all  will  go  well.  Let 
us  do  our  best."  Saining  this  he  rode  away,  and  the  at- 
tack upon  the  enemy  did  not  take  place.  The  army  of 
Zürich  encamped  close  to  the  outposts  of  the  five  forest 
cantons.  But  Zwingli  was  filled  with  forebodings. 
Seated  in  his  tent,  in  fear  and  silence,  he  momentarily 
expected  danger.  "  In  moments  of  real  danger  Zwin- 
gli was  certainly  fearless,  but  he  had  a  horror  of  shed- 
ding blood,  even  that  of  his  deadliest  enemy.  His  heart 
was  alone  concerned  about  the  liberty  of  his  Fathei'land, 
the  virtues  of  our  fathers,  and  the  lionor  of  Christ.  I 
speak  the  trnth  as  in  God's  presence."  Thus  intimately 
was  Mycouius  acquainted  with  his  beloved  Zwingli. 

In  the  mean  while  Canton  Berne  offered  to  raise  5000 
men  to  chastise  Zürich  in  case  of  necessity  !  The  Swiss 
Diet  was  assembled  in  Aarau.  This  was  the  swift  mes- 
sage that  Aebli  carried  from  the  Council  at  Zürich  to 
the  army  in  tlie  field.  Zwingli *s  fears  were  being  real- 
ized. Yet  he  comforted  both  himself  and  the  army 
when  he  said  :  "  Our  future  destiny  depends  upon  our 
courage. ' ' 

While  the  hostile  forces  thus  confronted  each  other, 
Zürich,  Thurgau,  and  St.  Gall  on  the  one  side,  Zug  and 
Yallis  on  the  other,  a  scene  transpired  between  the  out- 
posts of  the  two  armies  which  recalled  the  glory  of  an- 
cient Switzerland,  worthy  to  be  remembered  forever.  A 
few  hungry  soldiers  of  the  army  of  Zug  were  captnred 


1(;0  THi:    LIFK    OF    ULKIC    ZWISOLT. 

In-  the  forces  of  Zürich,  and  after  being  well  siipj^lied 
vith  provisions  they  were  sent  back  with  the  fraternal 
assurance  that  they  were  associates  and  brothers  of  a 
comtnon  Patherland.  At  another  time  the  Catholic  out- 
posts placed  a  ]:)ail  of  milk  outside  of  tlie  line,  and  cried 
out  to  the  Reformed  :  "  We  have  milk,  but  no  bread." 
Thereupon  the  men  of  Zürich  brought  the  needed  bread  to 
their  enemies,  who  crumbled  it  into  the  milk,  and  joyfully 
ate  it,  although  the  Catholics  had  been  ordered  by  their 
priests  never  to  eat  M'itli  heretics. 

The  Swiss  Diet  adjourned  from  Aarau  to  Steinhausen, 
a  Catholic  village  in  the  vicinity  of  both  armies,  and  re- 
solved that  the  claims  of  both  parties  should  be  heard. 
Zürich  demanded  that  the  Word  of  God  might  be 
preached  without  hindrance  in  the  entire  Confederacy, 
yet  that  no  one  should  be  compelled  to  renounce  the 
mass,  nor  even  pictures.  Also  that  no  one  should  be 
permitted  to  enter  the  military  service  of  the  Pope,  the 
Emj^eror,  or  the  King  of  France,  or  of  any  other  foreign 
potentate.  And  finally  that  Canton  Schwyz  should  be 
obliged  to  pay  the  sum  of  one  thousand  florins  to  the 
children  of  the  martyred  Pastor  Kaiser.  At  the  same 
time  Zwingli  admonished  the  Council  of  Zürich  to  con- 
clude naught  but  an  honorable  peace.  But  such  a  peace 
was  only  then  attainable  when  it  would  be  impossible  for 
foreign  princes,  by  the  use  of  money,  to  buy  up  men  all 
over  Switzerland. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1529,  the  treaty  of  peace  was 
signed.  The  principal  feature  or  condition  of  the  treaty 
was  this  :  That  neither  party  should  attack  the  other 
because  of  any  article  of  religion,  and  that  the  districts 
hitherto  under  the  common  government  of  both  parties 
might  decide  by  a  majority  vote  for  or  against  the  Ref- 
ormation,    The  forest  cantons  were  called  upon  to  give 


THE   PIRST   •W'AR    OF    KAPPEL.  IGl 

up  their  alliance  with  Austria,  and  to  surrender  the  writ- 
ten documents  containing  the  terms  of  the  said  treaty. 
Canton  Berne  added  the  proviso  that  if  these  writings 
were  not  immediately  surrendered  they  would  be  sent 
for  !  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  26tli  of  June  the 
documents  arrived,  and  were  read  in  the  presence  of  the 
assembled  forces. 

In  concluding  this  treaty  of  peace  between  the  con- 
tending parties  Zwingli's  warning  voice  was  not  heeded. 
Plis  heart  was  uneasy  over  the  result,  x^nd  indeed  it 
was  a  worthless  peace.  It  lasted  but  two  years  three 
months  and  fourteen  days.  Full  of  gloomy  thoughts, 
he  looked  forward  into  the  future.  He  was  conscious 
of  having  done  his  duty  before  God  and  man  in  having 
warned  liis  Fatherland  in  tlie  hour  of  danger.  Before 
leaving  Kappel  and  the  gloi'ious  mountain  scenery  of 
Albis,  he  composed  a  hymn,  which  was  afterward  sung 
on  the  battle-fields  of  Switzerland,  as  well  as  in  the 
palaces  of  kings  and  in  the  dwellings  of  the  people,  for 
Zwingli's  hymns  were  popular  among  all  classes. 

Now  mount  the  cliariot,  0  Lord, 

We  know  not  where  to  go. 
Thy  hand  must  now  uplift  the  sword 

And  smite  the  haiighty  foe. 

God,  for  Thy  honor  and  our  land 

Blast  Satan's  progeny, 
And  teach  Thy  faithful  flock  to  stand 

Ever  more  firm  in  Thee. 

To  bitter  strife,  0  put  an  end  ! 

And  waken  love  anew  ; 
Kind  hearts  to  parted  brethren  send. 

Old  feelings  warm  and  true. 

Soon  indeed  it  was  seen  that  peace  thus  established 
was  a  deceptive  one.     In  the  course  of  a  few  months  it 


102  THE    LIFE    OF    ULUIC    ZWINGLI. 

appeared,  that  the  Papists  intei-preted  the  conditions  of 
the  treaty  in  a  different  sense  from  that  in  whicli  they 
•were  understood.  They  continued  to  persecute  the  Re- 
formed, and  to  drive  them  into  exile.  Zwingli  and  the 
Keformation  were  derided.  It  was  now  publicly  con- 
ceded that  the  peace  of  Kappel  was  premature — indeed 
that  it  would  yet  be  necessary  to  regain  the  ancient  liber- 
ties by  force  of  arms. 

In  the  mean  while  the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  having 
formed  a  more  intimate  union  vdth  the  Pope,  arrived  in 
Germany  and  opened  the  Diet  of  Augsburg.  On  ac- 
count of  Protestant  dissensions  the  papal  party  expected 
the  best  results.  The  Swiss  Romanists  sent  an  embassy 
to  the  Diet,  which  Avas  graciously  received  by  the  Em- 
peror, and  which  served  the  more  to  increase  their  bold- 
ness. Zwingli  sent  a  confession  of  faith  froin  the  Re- 
formed party,  which  awakened  a  feeling  of  opposition, 
if  not  of  hatred.  The  Saxon  theologians  declined  ail 
union  with  the  Swiss  Reformed.  Bucer  proposed  a 
compromise  formula,  w^hich,  however,  was  rejected  by 
Luther  and  Zwingli.  Melanchthon,  on  the  other  hand, 
was  conferring  with  Dr.  Eck,  the  Romanist,  with  a  view 
to  reunion.  For  all  these  reasons  the  enemies  of  Zwin- 
gli in  Switzerland  believed  that  they  would  soon  gain 
their  object,  and  hence  they  used  every  opportunity  to 
break  the  conditions  of  the  treaty  of  Ivappel.  A  second 
war  was  impending.  Zwingli,  the  powerful  friend  of 
the  Fatherland,  vainly  endeavored  to  prevent  it. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


ZWINGLI     AT    HOME. 


While  Zwingli  was  born  at  "Wildhaus,  in  Toggenburg, 
in  1484,  Anna  Reinliard  was  born  in  tlie  same  year  in 
Zürich.  At  tlie  age  of  twenty  she  was  married  to  John 
Meier,  son  of  Conncillor  Gerald  Meier,  of  Knonau,  in 
Canton  Zürich.  Councillor  Meier  sent  his  son  to  Con- 
stance to  be  educated  at  the  Ej^iscopal  court,  and  had 
also  planned  to  provide  him  ^^'ith  a  wife.  But  John, 
without  his  father's  knowledge,  espoused  Anna  Rein- 
hard.  This  marriage  caused  an  irreconcilable  separation 
between  father  and  son,  and  induced  John  Meier  to 
enter  the  foreign  military  service.  In  the  year  1517 
he  returned  from  an  Italian  campaign  sick  and  dis- 
abled, and  soon  after  died.  His  widow,  Anna  Meier, 
retired  from  the  world  and  devoted  lierseK  to  the  educa- 
tion of  her  three  children,  two  girls  and  a  boy.  The 
latter,  named  Gerald,  received  his  ediication  at  the 
church  seminary  in  Zürich.  He  soon  developed  distin- 
guished talents  united  with  piety  and  a  retired  disposi- 
tion. Zwingli  inferred  that  the  quiet  and  pious  disposi- 
tion of  the  boy  implied  a  good  home  training,  and  that 
this  signified  a  good  mother. 

Zwingli  was  not  mistaken.  Ho  was  publicly  married 
to  the  widow,  Anna  Meier,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1524. 
Four  children  were  born  to  them— two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  The  oldest  child,  Regula,  was  married  in 
1541    to   Rudolph    Gwalther,    the   second   successor   of 


1G4  TUR    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWING!,!. 

Zwingli  aiid  the  first  editor  of  Ins  writings.  Slie  died  in 
the  year  1565,  of  the  plague.  Zwingli's  youngest  cliild, 
Anna,  died  in  youth.  His  oldest  son,  William,  was 
born  in  1526,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  being 
at  the  time  a  student  of  theology  in  Strasburg.  TJlric, 
Zwingli's  second  son,  was  born  in  1528,  and  afterward 
became  pastor  and  Professor  of  Theology  in  Zürich. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  forty-three,  in  the  year  1571.  lie 
also  had  a  son  named  Ulric,  who  likewise  beca]ne  Profes- 
sor of  Theology,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  in 
the  year  1600.  With  his  death  the  male  line  of  the 
family  of  Zwingli  became  extinct.  The  flourishing 
family  at  present  living  in  Canton  Zurich  are  descend- 
ants of  one  of  Zwingli's  brothers,  who  established  him- 
self at  EUy. 

Zwingli  was  found  at  home  in  plain  attire,  in  a  com- 
foi*table  clerical  go"vvn  and  hat.  He  was  always  of  a 
cheerful  countenance,  revealing  the  manly  courage  of  a 
hero,  and  friendly  to  every  one  that  called  upon  him. 
At  times  he  would  be  stirred  by  a  righteous  indignation 
at  some  exhibition  of  hypocrisy,  obstinacy,  or  igno- 
rance. But  the  storm-clouds  of  anger  soon  passed  away 
before  the  beams  of  that  truth  which  he  remembered, 
that  we  all  sin  frequently. 

In  his  manner  of  living  Zwingli  preferred  the  greatest 
simplicity.  His  wife  Anna,  who  possessed  many  costly 
garments,  as  Zwingli  -^Tites,  "  no  longer  touched  the 
plunder,  much  less  wore  it  for  display.  As  it  becomes  a 
good  housewife,  she  dresses  like  the  ^\'ives  of  the  com- 
mon citizen,  simply  and  well,  that  no  one  will  notice  her 
former  rank. ' ' 

The  early  morning  hours  were  spent  in  devotion,  in 
prayer,  and  in  meditation  upon  the  Word  of  God. 
Thus  he  prepared  himself,  by  personal  communion  with 


ZWIXGLI    AT    HOME.  1G5 

God,  for  the  many  arduous  labors  of  the  day,  that  he, 
owing  to  his  extraordinary  spiritual  gifts,  attended  to 
with  marvellous  rapidity.  But  there  were  times  when 
he  labored  not  only  till  midnight,  but  indeed  through 
the  entire  night.  For  in  addition  to  his  daily  sermons 
and  scholastic  M^ork,  to  his  care  for  Church  and  school, 
to  the  labor  of  answering  letters  from  at  home  and 
abroad,  there  was  added  special  care  for  the  poor,  the 
sick,  and  the  exiled  refugees  that  flocked  to  Zürich. 
Besides  all  this,  he  wrote  many  large  volumes  in  Ger- 
man, Latin,  and  Greek,  which  he  bequeathed  to  his 
Church  and  Fatherland.  Who  does  not  behold  in  all  this 
the  iron  constitution  of  this  great  man  and  his  wise  divi- 
sion of  time  into  periods  of  work,  rest,  and  recreation  ! 
If  Zwingli  himself  could  not  spare  the  time,  his  wife  en- 
tertained his  guests.  She  took  an  active  interest  in  all 
that  concerned  Church  and  Fatherland.  Zwingli  could 
not  cause  her  greater  joy  than  to  read  to  lier  from  his 
latest  writings,  or  when  he  translated  to  her  beautiful 
passages  from  the  old  Greek  and  Latin  poets.  She 
valued  as  a  precious  gift  the  first  proof-sheets  of  the 
Zurich  Bible  which  Zwingli  and  Leo  Juda  translated 
into  Swiss-German,  and  which  was  completed  in  the  year 
1530.  As  soon  as  the  proof-sheets  of  a  form  were  at 
hand,  she  would  have  Zwingli  read  the  same  to  her, 
if  she  had  been  obliged  to  wait  until  after  midnight. 
And  as  they  both  revered  God,  so  they  induced  the  in- 
mates of  their  household  to  follow  their  examj)le,  to  the 
effect  that  visitors  joyfully  remembered  the  hours  sjjent 
in  their  home.  The  Silesian  Chancellor,  Nicholas 
Arator,  long  after  Zwingli's  death,  writes  as  follows  : 
"  In  Zwingli's  household,  among  these  dear  friends,  I 
was  so  well  pleased  with  their  Christian  family  life  that 
I  can  never  forget  it  as  long  as  I  live,  and  that  I  shall 


l(.i(.!  THE    LIKK    OF   ULlllC    ZWINGLI. 

always  coniniend  it  to  my  own.  More  especially  did  he 
reconiincnd'tlie  liabit  of  prayer  to  all  who  visited  him. 
For,  said  he,  if  we  grow  wiser  and  more  learned  in  our 
intercourse  w'ith  wise  and  learned  pei'sons,  how  much 
more  will  we  gain  in  our  inner  life  by  communing  with 
God  in  prayer." 

But  l^esides  such  serious  moments,  Zwingli  spent  many 
a  happy  hour  at  the  cradle  of  his  children,  singing  with 
them  their  youthful  songs,  or  accompanying  them  upon 
some  musical  instrument.  Among  the  many  instru- 
ments which  he  could  play,  the  lute,  was  his  favorite. 
For  his  own  comfort  and  joy  he  composed  many  a  song 
and  hymn,  both  music  and  words.  Rome  found  fault 
with,  and  even  Faber  criticised  his  music.  Yet  he  was  . 
not  pained  by  this  reproach.  To  Faber  he  wrote  :  "I 
make  good  use  of  my  musical  Icnowledge,  which  I 
steadily  practised  from  my  youtli,  both  to  cheer  my 
children  and  to  put  them  to  sleep. "  Even  Socrates  in  his 
old  age  grew  young  again  after  he  had  begun  to  play  the 
hai-p.  And  as  at  the  cradle  and  in  the  family  circle,  so 
did  he  make  good  use  of  his  musical  knowledge  in  the 
circle  of  his  friends  that  were  accustomed  to  assemble  at 
liis  house  on  Sunday  afternoons.  Many  of  his  personal 
clerical  friends  and  many  of  the  to  urn  Council,  accom- 
panied by  tlieir  wives,  spent  the  afternoon  at  his  home. 
But  all  centred  about  God's  "Word,  which  his  own  soul 
found  so  precious  in  times  of  sorrow  that  he  could  not 
refrain  from  recommending  it  most  heartily  to  his  conti- 
dential  friends.  After  reading  the  Scriptures  and  edify- 
ing conversation  upon  the  same,  the  time  was  spent  in 
friendly  talk,  interspersed  with  cheering  song,  usually 
conducted  by  Leo  Juda. 

These  afternoon  meetings  of  song  and  praise  gave  rit^c 
in  later  times  to  the  popular  songs  and  sacred  hymns  ai^ 


ZWIXGLI    AT   HOME.  167 

tliey  are  still  sung,  after  the  lapse  of  three  centuries,  in 
four  voices  or  parts,  all  over  Switzerland.  In  both  the 
high  and  the  common  schools  of  the  Canton  of  Zürich 
the  singing  of  church  chorals  and  patriotic  songs  in  four 
voices  is  obligatory.  The  hjmns  of  all  the  hymn-books 
of  the  Reformed  Cantons  of  Switzerland  are  set  to  four 
parts  or  voices. 

In  the  p^ilpit  or  before  the  Council,  among  the  people 
or  with  the  students  and  in  his  study,  in  his  family  or 
among  his  friends,  wherever  Zwingli  was,  he  was  sincere 
and  true.  His  highest  aim  was  to  reconstruct  the  badly 
degenerated  Church  and  to  save  the  Fatherland  from  the 
brink  of  ruin.  "  According  to  my  judgment,  truth  is  for 
the  human  soul  what  the  sun  is  for  the  world.  Wher- 
ever the  sun  arises  it  is  joyfully  greeted,  and  men  pre- 
pare themselves  cheerfully  for  work.  In  like  manner 
the  soul  rejoices  in  the  light  of  truth  from  whatsoever 
source  it  comes.  It  looks  up  and  congratulates  itself 
that  the  darkness  of  ignorance  disappears  before  the 
splendor  of  truth.  As  there  is  nothing  more  welcome  to 
the  world  than  the  sun,  so  there  can  be  nothing  lovelier, 
more  precious,  and  higher  to  the  human  soul  than  the 
truth.  Whoever  brings  the  truth  to  light,  becomes  my 
friend,  even  if  he  disparage  my  name  ;  he  enriches, 
blesses  my  soul,  and  fulfils  its  higher  destiny. ' ' 

When  Vadiau,  burgomaster  of  St.  Gall,  in  company 
with  many  riflemen,  visited  Zürich  to  participate  in  a 
national  festival,  which  the  authorities  had  instituted  in 
honor  of  his  helpful  services,  Zwingli  was  among  the 
number  that  welcomed  their  honored  guests.  He  sat  at 
the  festive  board  and  rejoiced  that  everything  unworthy 
had  been  removed  from  such  festivities,  and  that  because 
of  the  purifying  and  sanctifying  influence  of  the  Gospel 
a  faithful  Christian  could  also  participate  in  them.     As 


ICS  THE   LIFE    OF    ULlilO    ZWINOLT. 

at  tlic  meetings  of  the  guilds  of  citizens  and  laborers  in 
their  halls,  so  at  the  popular  festivals,  Zwingli  showed 
by  his  presence  that  among  the  best  fruits  of  Swiss  lib- 
erty this  is  to  be  prized  :  that  men  in  Church  and  State, 
of  liigh  and  low  degree,  in  public  and  jDrivate  life,  in 
the  circle  of  friends  and  on  national  festival  days,  can  be 
sincere — thoroughly  sincere  and  true. 


I 


CHAPTER  XXL 


ZWnSTGLI  S    TEACHINGS    AND   WKITING8. 

In  all  the  doctrines  that  Zwingli  formulated  he  was  ac- 
customed to  ascribe  all  salvation  imto  God  as  the  abso- 
lute determining  jiower.  Nowhere  does  he  j^ermit  sal- 
vation to  be  conditioned  by  human  resolves  or  actions, 
things,  or  ceremonies  ;  nor  does  he  admit  that  any  creat- 
ure could  influence  the  decrees  of  God.  "  In  God  man 
rests  and  confides  ;  God  is  the  Sabbath  of  his  soul,  his 
one  and  all  ;  God  is  the  incomparable  highest  good,  the 
only  exclusive  Author  and  Giver  of  all  Salvation  ;  it  is 
impossible  for  him  to  do  without  God  ;  hence  he  sur- 
renders himself  entirely  to  God,  whose  instrument  he  is. 
God  is  therefore  the  real  object  of  faith,  especially  since 
faith  really  means  to  trust  in  God  alone  ;  and  all  else 
that  belongs  to  faith,  including  Christ  and  His  salvation, 
the  Word  of  God  and  the  means  of  grace  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church — all  are  included  in  this  dependent  and  ex- 
clusive relation  of  the  subject  to  God.  The  security  of 
the  soul  is  that  intimate  dependence  upon  God,  and  this 
is  real  faith  that  everything  exists  alone  in  and  through 
God.  Our  salvation  is  founded  alone  upon  God,  upon 
the  grace  of  God,  whose  Mediator  and  Advocate  is  Jesus 
Christ,  upon  the  operations  of  divine  grace,  in  and  for 
man,  but  not  upon  anything  human,  external,  or  finite. 
All  confidence  that  does  not  rest  in  God  is  founded 
on  unbelief,  is  idolatry  ;  whereas  the  greater  the  faith  in 


170  lUK   LIFE    OF    ULIIIC    ZWINGLI. 

the  all-controlling  God,  the  greater  is  God  in  thee  as 
the  eternal,  unchangeable  power  of  all  goodness." 

Such  beautiful  thou^-hts  as  these  Zwingli  expresses  in 
numerous  passages  of  his  writings.  They  originated  in 
liis  untiring  study  of  the  Holy  Scnptures,  as  well  as  in 
his  intimate  communion  with  God  in  prayer.  He  felt 
perfectly  assured  of  his  possession  of  personal  salvation. 
Keconciled,  united  with  God  in  Christ,  possessed  and 
impelled  by  His  Spirit,  he  deserted  neither  the  Church 
nor  the  Fatherland  in  trials.  In  times  of  need  and  pub- 
lic tri])ulation  he  was  their  firmest  support,  and  continued 
to  be  the  same  until  death  ;  although,  had  he  yielded  to 
the  inclinations  of  the  flesh,  he  would  rather  have  avoid- 
ed the  conflicts. 

"  It  happens  to  us,"  said  Zwingli,  "as  it  happens  to 
those  at  sea.  In  the  beginning  of  their  voyage  the  land 
seems  to  them  to  be  of  far  greater  extent  than  the  sea. 
But  the  farther  they  sail  upon  the  sea,  the  more  and 
better  they  perceive  how  small  a  part  of  the  whole  earth 
the  land  really  is.  Thus  it  is  with  us  :  as  long  as  we  de- 
pend upon  our  own  understandings,  we  know  nothing  of 
the  works  and  ways  of  God.  But  when  we  remove  our 
gaze  from  the  earthly  and  fasten  it  upon  the  Divine, 
then  we  begin  to  learn  of  things  that  fill  our  minds  with 
great  amazement.  But  what  is  the  sea  of  which  I  have 
been  speaking,  other  than  the  Divine  Providence  and 
government  over  all  things,  the  immeasurable  and  in- 
exhaustible power  and  activity  of  God  ?  Let  us  then 
leave  the  shores  of  earth  and  contemplate  the  works  of 
God,  and  we  shall  behold  glorious  things.  Let  us  con- 
sider the  wonderful  acts  of  God  until  we  shall  have 
become  capable  of  appreciating  still  greater  things." 

These  precious  passages  of  Zwingli's  concerning  man's 
absolute  dependence  upon   God  show    that  such  eenti- 


ZWINÜLl'S    TEACHINGS    AND     WHITINGS.  171 

ments,  as  in  Zwiiigli  himself,  are  not  calculated  to  render 
men  careless  and  secure,  bnt  rather  humble  and  obedient 
to  the  Divine  Word.  "  lie  that  is  tilled  with  God's 
Spirit,"  sajs  Zwingli,  "  he  advises,  assists,  is  always 
busy  about  the  welfare  of  his  neighbor,  always  desires 
to  do  something  good  and  useful,  never  ceases  his  benev- 
olent activity,  is  untiring  in  every  good  work,  and  is 
anxiously  concerned  lest  he  do  less  than  he  should. 
God's  Spirit  works  in  the  hearts  of  the  pious  ;  they  re- 
aemble  a  mill  upon  a  hill,  that  is  rendered  active  by  the 
blowing  of  the  wind.  Let  us  remember  that  we  are  in- 
struments of  the  Divine  activity,  whom  God  employs  to 
execute  that  which  lie  has  in  mind.  With  zeal  and 
diligence  we  are  to  undertake  our  work,  never  grow 
weary  over  it,  not  forsake  the  Divine  work,  nor  merely 
celebrate  holy  day,  but  rather  lay  hold  upon  and  help  in 
all  things. 

"  Keligion  had  its  origin,"  continues  Zwingli,  "  at  the 
tame  when  God  recalled  fugitive  man,  who  otherwise 
would  have  remained  a  fugitive.  For  God  pitied  the 
perverseness  of  his  flight  and  the  dismay  of  his  soul  ; 
He  regarded  him  as  a  faithful  father,  who,  although  he 
hates  the  folly  and  the  presumption  of  the  son,  yet  he 
can  never  hate  the  son  himself  ;  but  graciously  calls  the 
last  and  despairing  one  :  '  Adam,  where  art  thou  ?  ' 
O  wonderful,  inexpressible  mercy  of  our  heavenly 
Father  !  lie  thus  asks,  in  order  that  man  may  always 
remember  in  what  condition  an  all-merciful  God  found 
him,  and  out  of  which  He  called  him.  Here,  I  main- 
tain, stood  the  cradle  of  religion.  Unhappy  man  saw 
that  he  had  merited  naught  but  God's  wrath,  and,  de- 
spairing, he  fled  from  God.  But  behold  the  Father's 
fidelity  to  the  unfaithful  son  !  He  pursues  him,  and 
overcomes  his  resistance  amid  his  obstinate  endeavors. 


\7'i  THE    LIKE   OF    ULIUC    ZWIXGLT. 

AVhat  is  this  other  tlian  fidelity  to  the  son  ?  And  thus, 
until  this  very  day,  originates  the  fidelity  of  God,  and  is 
exercised  for  our  benefit.  And  only  then  is  it  God's 
complete  fidelity  when  we  are  converted  to  Him  who 
deliv^ers  us  from  our  own  counsels.  But  oh  !  the  un- 
happy human  father  that  pursues  the  son  with  uninter- 
rupted kindness,  i)ut  whose  efforts  are  in  vain  !  Yet  not 
so  with  our  Divine  Father.  For  whomsoever  He  calls 
is  obliged  to  answer,  whether  he  will  or  will  not,  as  is 
proven  in  the  case  of  Adam  the  disobedient  one,  David 
the  adulterer  and  murderer,  and  Paul  the  persecutor. 
Hence  religion  consists  in  this  :  God  leads  man  to  ac- 
knowledge his  disobedience,  sin,  and  misery,  not  less 
than  Adam,  and  especially  to  see  why  it  is  that  he  de- 
spairs of  himself.  At  the  same  time  God  reveals  the 
fulness  of  His  benevolence,  in  order  that  man  may  see 
that  there  is  a  certain  hope  and  abundant  grace  prepared 
by  his  Creator  and  Father  for  him,  by  virtue  of  which 
he  can  never  be  separated  from  Him.  Such  a  depend- 
ence, therefore,  by  which  man  trusts  God  alone,  as 
the  only  Good,  who  can  relieve  us  of  our  troubles,  turn 
away  from  us  all  evil,  or  else  overrule  it  to  His  honor 
and  to  our  good — this  is  fidelity,  l^iety,  and  religion." 

Actuated  by  so  great  degree  of  piety,  Zwingli  regard- 
ed the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  the  Kew  Testaments 
as  the  inviolable  "Word  of  God,  i.e.  the  sacred  writings 
of  both  Testaments  are  the  inspired  Word  of  God.  Not 
human  historical  evidence  or  proof,  not  the  testimony  of 
the  ancient  Church,  but  alone  the  Divine  impression 
which  the  believer  receives  from  the  Scriptures,  our 
spiritual  life  being  assisted  thereby,  and  the  testimony 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  that  effect  can  establish  the  firm 
conviction  in  the  inspiration  of  the  Bible. 

Zwingli  left  a  large  number  of  writings,   especially 


ZWINGLl'S    TEACHINGS    AND     WRITINGS.  173 

exegetical  treatises  upon  the  books  of  the  Old  and  tlie 
New  Testaments.  The  stormy  times  of  his  experience 
as  Reformer  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years  afforded  him 
but  little  time  to  arrange  and  perfect  his  writings,  as  a 
man  of  letters  would  like  to  have  done.  They  were 
composed  amid  great  difficulties.  They  are,  however,  a 
pi'ecious  and  valuable  testimony  of  the  great  spirit  that 
dwelt  in  him. 

The  first  edition  of  his  writings,  though  not  perfectly 
complete,  comprising  four  volumes  in  folio,  appeared  in 
1545,  and  was  edited  by  his  son-in-law,  R.  Gwalther. 
In  1581  a  new  Latin  edition  was  published.  In  the 
year  1530  appeared  his  renowned  translation  of  the 
Bible,  which  remains  to  this  day  one  of  the  best  ver- 
sions extant,  and  enjoys  a  large  circulation  arBong  the 
Swiss  and  the  German  Reformed  in  the  United  States. 
In  1536  there  appeared  an  edition  of  his  writings,  in 
folio,  and  in  1592,  in  quarto,  in  Basel,  both,  however, 
incomplete.  An  enlarged  and  improved  edition  of  his 
complete  works  was  published  in  Zürich  in  1828-42, 
edited  by  M.  Schüler  and  J.  Schultliess,  under  the  name 
and  title:  "Huldreich  Zwingli's  Werke.''  L.  Usteri 
and  S.  Yoegelin  issued  his  select  works,  in  3  volumes,  in 
1819. 

The  following  biographies  have  appeared,  all  in  Ger- 
man :  Nüscheler,  1776  ;  J.  C.  Hess,  1810  ;  J.  M. 
Schüler,  1819  ;  Röder,  1855  ;  R.  Ohristoffel,  1857  ; 
Ilundeshagen,  1862  ;  Spürri,  1866  ;  Mörikofer,  1867. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


ZWINGLI  ß  DEATH  AT  KAPPEL, 


The  unhappy  consequences  of  the  peace  signed  at 
Kappel,  which  the  clear  insight  of  Zwingli  liad  foreseen 
%vith  misgivings,  were  soon  reahzed.  Berne  indeed  had 
rejoiced,  and  Zürich  had  celebrated  festivals  because  no 
blood  had  been  shed.  But  Zwiugli's  soul  mourned,  for 
he  thought  that,  although  the  people  now  rejoiced,  the 
time  would  come  when  they  would  all  lament  over  this 
alleged  triumph.  The  words  which  he  spake  in  the  pul- 
pit were  words  of  prophetic  warning  to  Zürich  and  her 
allies  :  "  The  peace  concluded  at  Kappel  will  yet  lead  to 
it  that  we  shall  wring  our  hands  because  of  trouble  and 
sorrow.''  And  so  it  came  to  pass.  Berne  had  rejoiced 
at  the  victory,  and  Zürich  had  returned  home  in  joy. 
But  the  five  forest  cantons  had  left  the  field  embittered 
against  their  enemies.  They  had  vowed  to  remain  eter- 
nally true  to  the  old  faith.  The  terms  of  the  ratified 
treaty  of  peace  were  regarded  by  them  as  an  unbearable 
yoke,  and  were  interpreted  by  them  with  a  different 
meaning  than  that  attached  to  them  by  Zürich.  In  fact 
the  treaty  of  peace  proved  a  burden  to  them.  ' '  'We 
shall  have  no  rest,"  said  they,  "until  we  have  broken 
every  fetter  and  regained  our  former  freedom. " 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1531,  the  Swiss  Diet  assem- 
bled in  Baden,  at  which  the  representatives  of  the  five 
forest  cantons  declared  that  they  vould  not  again  appear 
in  the  Diet  unless  the  unla-svful  efforts  at  evangelization 


ZWINGLl'8    DEATH    AT    KAPPEL.  175 

set  forth  and  encouraged  bj  Ziiricli  were  put  an  end  to  ; 
indeed  in  case  of  necessity  tliey  might  alone  undertake 
to  punish  such  efforts  by  the  use  of  force.  On  the  other 
hand,  Zürich  complained  that  the  clause  of  the  treaty 
forbidding  aspereions,  "in  order  that  new  dissensions 
may  not  be  caused  through  misrepresentations  giving  rise 
to  greater  disorders,"  was  being  continually  violated  by 
Canton  Schwyz.  But  in  this  very  matter  lay  a  spark 
of  lire  which  was  to  enkindle  the  llames  and  lead  to  the 
beginning  of  the  second  war  of  Kappel. 

To  curb  the  tongues  of  the  Roman  Catholic  cantons 
was  an  impossibility.  Through  all  their  valleys  they 
cried  out  :  "  Zwingli  is  a  murderer  and  an  arch-heretic, 
provoking  most  fearful  scenes  of  disorder  ;  the  men  of 
Zürich  are  all  heretics,  guilty  of  horrible'sins. "  A  pen- 
sioner ran  about  the  streets,  shouting  that  he  would  not 
rest  until  he  had  plunged  his  sword  into  the  breast  of 
the  godless  heretic,  Zwingli.  The  Reformed  and  the 
cause  of  Reformation  were  publicly  insulted.  In  Canton 
Schwyz,  however,  their  behavior  was  the  worst  of  all. 
The  Reformed  were  not  only  insulted,  but  shamefully 
abused.  The  enemies  of  the  Reformation  appeared  in  a 
local  assembly  with  fir-branches  in  their  hats  as  a  sign  of 
war,  without  remonstrance  on  the  part  of  any  one.  The 
five  Catholic  cantons  prepare.d  themselves  for  the  conflict 
they  had  already  contemplated.  Haughtily  they  looked 
down  upon  the  heretical  cantons.  On  all  sides  was 
heard  the  clanking  of  sword  and  cuirass.  Under  such 
circumstances  the  Reformed  cantons  were  of  necessity 
obliged  to  bestir  themselves. 

In  February  a  Swiss  Diet  met  in  Basel,  in  March  in 
Zürich,  and  on  the  10th  of  April  a  general  assembly  of 
all  the  cantons  was  convened  in  Baden.  But  nothing 
was  accomplished  at  any  of  these  meetings  that  could 


170  THE    LIFE    OF    LLUIC    ZWINGLI. 

have  preserved  peace  between  the  two  parties.  Zürich 
demanded  the  free  preaching  of  the  Gospel  everywhere 
in  Switzerland,  On  the  other  hand,  tlie  five  forest  can- 
tons kissed  tlie  Pope's  foot  and  the  hands  of  the  Aus- 
trians,  whose  Emperor  sent  them  weekly  messages,  ex- 
horting them  boldly  to  resist  the  Reformed,  and  assuring 
them  of  his  certain  assistance. 

War  was  unavoidable.  Zwingli  recognized  this  fact. 
His  heart  beat  for  the  welfare  of  Church  and  State  of  the 
Fatherland,  The  blood  of  the  ancient  Swiss  coursed 
through  his  veins  ;  he  felt  as  they  did,  that  it  was  the 
highest  honor  for  a  man  to  live  and  die  for  his  native 
land.  It  was  his  wish  that  energetic  measures  might  be 
taken,  before  the  Emperor,  who  was  engaged  in  a  war 
with  the  Turks,  might  come  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  cantons.  On  the  12th  of  May,  1531, 
a  meeting  was  held  in  Aarau,  Zurich  advocated  war. 
Berne  proposed  a  blockade  of  the  frontier  lines,  forbid- 
ding the  admission  of  grain,  wine,  salt,  iron,  and  steel 
weithin  the  lines  of  the  Roman  Catholic  cantons,  and  thus 
avoiding  bloodshed.  They  claimed  that  the  end  sought 
would  thus  be  reached.  Zürich,  on  the  contrary,  re- 
garded this  proposition  to  be  unwise,  because  an  oppor- 
tunity would  thus  be  afforded  to  the  enemy  to  rally  their 
forces,  and  indeed  would  compel  them  to  attempt  sorties 
in  order  to  provide  themselves  with  the  needed  articles. 
The  innocent  would  suffer  with  the  guilty,  friends 
would  be  converted  into  enemies,  and  thousands  would 
unnecessarily  be  deprived  of  all  food.  But  in  vain  were 
Zurich's  representations.  By  resolution  of  the  15th  of 
May,  the  frontier  lines  were  closed  against  all  trade  and 
trafiic.     Zürich  yielded,  and  Zwingli  mourned. 

On  the  following  Sunday  he  preached  openly  and 
earnestly  against  this  unrighteous  and  unwise  measure. 


ZWINGLI'S    DEATH    AT   KAPPEL.  177 

He  was  profoundly  convinced  that,  not  only  as  minister 
but  also  as  Christian  citizen,  the  right  and  the  duty  de- 
volved upon  him  to  punish  and  to  hinder  all  unchris- 
tian proceedings,  even  if  authorized  by  the  government, 
so  far  as  God  should  give  him  power  and  opportunity. 
Among  other  things  he  said  in  his  sermon  :  "  You  men 
of  Zürich  forbid  all  food  to  the  five  cantons  as 
ye  would  to  malefactors.  You  had  better  follow  up 
your  threats  with  an  emphatic  blow,  rather  than  starve 
poor,  innocent  people.  You  think  there  is  no  sufficient 
cause  or  reason  for  punishing  them,  and  yet  you  refuse 
them  food  and  drink,  thereby  nevertheless  compelling 
them  to  resort  to  arms,  cross  the  borders,  and  inflict 
punishment  upon  you.  And  thus  it  will  come  to  pass." 
Zwingli's  view  was  clear  ;  his  sorrow  over  the  measures 
adopted  was  just  and  right.  Soon  enough  the  forest 
cantons  seized  their  swords,  sharpened  their  halberds, 
and  marched  in  the  direction  of  Berne  and  Zürich  with 
the  cry  :  "  They  have  closed  our  highways,  but  we  shall 
open  them  by  force."  Catholic  France  endeavored  to 
preserve  peace  between  the  contending  parties,  but  at 
the  same  time  did  not  neglect  secretly  to  instigate  the 
forest  cantons  not  to  yield  an  inch  in  their  demands. 
Again  the  Diet  assembled,  but  again  without  accomplish- 
ing anything.  Added  to  all  this,  a  time  of  famine  op- 
pressed the  land.  And  not  only  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
forest  cantons,"  but  also  in  Zürich,  the  poor  suffered 
severely  ;  the  more  so  since  extortionate  tradesmen 
sought  to  profit  by  the  hard  times,  and  rich  money- 
lenders by  their  usurious  exactions.  Zwingli  energeti- 
cally resisted  these  unrighteous  acts,  and  procured  the 
adoption  of  certain  rules  and  regulations  to  which  millers 
and  bakers  were  subjected,  and  by  which  all  usurers  and 
extortioners  should  be  punished.     All  persons  thus  re- 


178  THE   LIFE   OV   ULIilC    ZWIXGLT. 

ßtricted  became  Zwingli's  enemies,  plotted  and  worked 
against  him  wherever  they  could.  Monks,  pensioners, 
nobles,  and  discontented  persons  generally  united  aiid 
made  common  cause  against  him,  in  order  to  overthrow 
him.  With  heavy  grief  Zwingli  observed  the  manipnla- 
tions  of  these  allied  parties.  Great  sorrow  filled  his 
soul.  His  heart  was  burdened  with  the  thought  that 
he  who  had  never  sought  his  own,  but  who  had  always 
labored  for  the  present  and  eternal  welfare  of  the  people, 
for  Church  and  Fatherland,  should  thus  ungraciously  be 
treated. 

Filled  with  pain  and  sorrow,  Zwingli  appeared  before 
the  Great  Council  of  Zürich,  on  the  26th  of  July,  and 
spoke  with  his  heart  deeply  stirred  :  "  For  a  period  of 
eleven  years  I  have  preached  to  you  the  Gospel,  faith- 
fully and  pateraally  warning  you  against  the  dan  ers 
which  threaten  our  Confederacy,  should  the  five  can- 
tons— that  is,  the  throng  that  lives  upon  foreign  pensions 
and  subsidies — gain  the  upper  hand.  But  all  this  seems 
to  be  of  no  consequence  to  you  ;  for  you  continue  to  add 
those  to  your  Council  who  long  for  such  blood-money. 
But  such  men  are  the  best  friends  of  the  five  cantons 
and  the  most  dangerous  enemies  of  the  Gospel.  But 
you  will  not  obey  the  truth,  and  yet  hold  me  responsible 
for  all  the  evil  that  happens.  I  desire  therefore  that 
you  will  accept  my  resignation.  I  will  provide  for  my- 
self in  some  other  way."  Zwingli  then  departed,  his 
eyes  being  filled  with  tears. 

But  the  Council  was  very  much  disconcerted  at  this 
turn  of  affairs.  Every  member  of  the  Council  felt 
deeply  moved,  and  the  respect  entertained  for  him  so 
many  years  was  newly  aroused.  All  acknowledged  that 
with  Zwingli's  departure  a  great  misfortune  would  befall 
both    Church    and   State.      ''To   lose   him  now,"   said 


ZWIXGLI'S    DEATH    AT    KAPPEL,  179 

every  one,  "  would  he  ruinous  to  Zürich.  A  committee, 
consisting  of  the  burgomaster  and  several  magistrates, 
was  appointed  to  call  upon  Zwingli  at  his  home,  and  to 
persuade  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation.  This  was 
done  on  the  same  day,  and  Zwingli  demanded  three  days 
for  further  consideration. 

For  three  days  and  three  nights  the  soul  of  this  great 
man  was  agonized  to  find  the  right  solution  to  the  ques- 
tion. He  well  saw  that  the  statesmen,  with  all  their 
political  wisdom  and  half-heartedness,  had  so  confused 
the  situation,  had  furthered  dissensions  and  party  spirit, 
and  had  so  strengthened  the  enemy,  that  nothing  short 
of  some  stirring  event  or  some  grievous  providence 
could  bring  deliverance.  That  he  himself  would  fall  as 
a  sacrifice  he  recognized  as  a  probability.  How  much 
more  agreeable  then  would  it  have  been  for  him  to  insist 
upon  his  resignation,  and  to  retire,  either  to  the  hills  of 
Toggenburg,  to  Wildhaus,  or  elsewhere.  Yet  the  great 
man  could  not  and  would  not  forsake  his  Fatherland  in 
the  hour  of  national  danger.  At  last  the  sacrifice  was 
brought  and  tremblingly  laid  upon  the  altar.  All  evil 
directed  against  him  he  left  to  the  just  Judge,  and  anew 
devoted  himself  unreservedly  to  the  service  of  God. 

After  the  lapse  of  three  days  Zwingli  again  appeared 
before  the  Council  and  declared  :  "  Because  you  have 
promised  to  do  better  I  shall  remain  with  you,  and  by 
God's  grace  shall  labor  for  the  welfare  of  the  people 
until  the  end  of  my  life. "  ISew  courage  and  zeal  im- 
pelled him  from  this  time  forth,  and  he  developed  a  re- 
markable activity  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  notwith- 
standing the  numerous  labors  which  the  pastoral  ofiice 
imposed  upon  him,  which  he  attended  to  from  the  year 
1519  onward.  Zwingli  lived  in  the  immovable  faith 
that  the  Word  of  God  is  the  only  and  thorough  means 


ISO  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWIXGLI. 

of  salvation  for  all  the  failings  and  shortcomings  of  his 
Fatherland,  not  only  for  the  Church  bnt  also  for  the 
State.  Ilence  he  could  not  relin(j[uish  the  hope  that  all 
Switzerland  might  yet  be  won  for  the  Gospel.  lie 
never  doubted  the  willingness  of  the  people  of  the 
mountain  cantons  to  receive  the  Gospel,  and  in  spite  of 
all  reproaches  and  accusations  on  their  part  his  heart  beat 
warmly  for  them  until  his  death. 

At  the  S}Tiods  of  Frauenfeld,  in  the  years  1529  and 
1530,  he  was  received  with  distinguished  honors  in  the 
presence  of  400  clergymen.  He  was  also  summoned  to 
attend  the  synods  of  St.  Gall  and  Toggenburg,  in  order 
to  assist  in  the  reconstruction  of  Church  relations.  He 
preached  in  the  presence  of  enthusiastic  multitudes,  and 
received  their  confidence  and  reverence  to  a  high  degree. 
In  St.  Gall  the  people  assembled  before  his  quarters  and 
expressed  their  gratitude  to  him  in  vocal  and  instrumen- 
tal music.  The  eyes  of  all  that  loved  the  truth  re- 
garded him.  From  him,  as  from  a  prophet  of  God, 
they  expected  counsel  and  admonition,  correction  and 
comfort, 

Notwithstanding  this  extraordinary  activity,  he  was 
very  busy  at  this  time  in  preparing  exegetical  commen- 
taries upon  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah.  In  the  summer  of 
1531  both  volumes  appeared  in  print.  In  many  respects 
his  own  position  resembled  that  of  these  prophets.  He 
looked  into  the  future,  and  the  nearer  the  impending 
storm  threatened  himself  and  the  Church,  the  more  cer- 
tain was  he  that  God  would  fulfil  His  promises  to  His 
chosen  people.  The  Word  of  God  was  his  only  rule  in 
all  activity,  so  that  he  was  ready  rather  to  lose  his  life 
than  to  yield  in  the  least  to  forcible  measures  employed 
against  God  and  His  Word.  Hence  he  so  clearly  view- 
ed the  duty  that  God  imposed  upon  him,  without  the 


ZWINGLl'S   DEATH    AT    KAPPEL.  181 

least  wavering  at  the  tliouglit  of  approacliing  tribulation. 
He  continnally  sought  to  penetrate  into  tlie  hidden  mys- 
teries of  God,  and  acted,  in  view  of  the  needs  of  his 
Fatlierland,  hke  one  that  has  his  home,  his  citizenship 
above.  In  his  last  commentary,  published  shortly  be- 
fore the  breaking  out  of  war,  he  writes  (Jeremiah 
33  :  2)  the  ever-memorable  words  :  "  Here  we  must 
well  consider  the  higher  necessity  that  controls  the 
prophets.  Is  it  not  evident  treason  to  advise  those  who 
desire  to  save  themselves  to  go  over  to  the  enemy  ? 
Could  treason  be  otherwise  so  clearly  expressed  than  it  is 
in  these  words  ?  "When  God  commands  us  to  do  that 
which  conflicts  with  the  views  of  all  men,  when  He  en- 
joins us  to  do  that  which  human  laws  forbid,  then  we 
find  ourselves  in  a  dilemma.  But  a  soul  that  fears  and 
honors  God  cares  nothing  for  the  threats  of  the  world. 
To  further  the  Council  of  God  is  its  chief  concern,  .  .  . 
Let  us  be  courageous  then  in  the  work  of  the  renewal  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  and  the  restoration  of  a  Christian 
government,  even  if  sorrows  and  dangers  confront  ns, 
even  if  we  shall  not  live  to  see  the  successful  result. 
The  Judge  sees  us,  and  will  crown  us  after  the  conflict. 
Others  upon  earth  will  rejoice  in  the  fruits  of  our  suffer- 
ing, while  we  shall  enjoy  our  eternal  reward  in  heaven  !" 
Because  of  the  distinguished  honors  that  were  paid 
him  on  his  synodical  visits  to  the  mountain  cantons, 
Zwingli  had  deceived  himself  in  concluding  that  they 
would  gladly  receive  the  Gospel.  He  overlooked  the 
fact  that  these  ancient  Catholic  cantons  clung  with  tenac- 
ity to  the  old  faith  and  customs.  Yet  his  self-deception 
was  honorable  and  touching  to  a  very  high  degree,  for  it 
showed  his  whole-hearted  love  for  the  Fatherland.  He 
felt  himself  called  of  God  to  secure  the  free  2:)roclama- 
tion  of  the  Gospel  for  all  Christians  in  general,  and  thus 


183  THE    LIFE   OF   ULRIC    ZWINOLI. 

ill  particular  for  the  people  of  the  five  forest  cantons, 
in  order  to  lead  them  on  this  way  to  true  Swiss  liberty. 
The  prospect  of  an  imminent  tragic  end  did  not  cause 
him  to  fear,  but  rather  quickened  his  courage  ;  for  to  be 
chosen  of  God  and  deemed  worthy  to  die  for  His  cause, 
he  regarded  to  be  the  Cliristian's  greatest  crown  of  vic- 
tory. 

As  Zwingli  had  correctly  foreseen,  the  restriction  of 
articles  of  food  had  done  more  harm  than  good.  The 
forest  cantons,  instead  of  being  humbled,  grew  more  ob- 
stinate and  at  the  same  time  more  united.  The  Reform- 
ed cantons  knew  not  what  course  to  pursue.  If  they 
raised  the  blockade,  it  would  signify  that  they  had 
gained  nothing,  or  that  they  were  neither  united  nor 
strong  enough  to  go  further  and  attempt  an  attack.  If 
they  did  not  raise  the  blockade,  no  one  could  tell  what 
the  end  would  be.  The  five  cantons  were  already  so  de- 
fiant that  they  would  no  longer  listen  to  moderate  de- 
mands, but  insisted  first  of  all  upon  an  immediate  re- 
moval of  the  restriction. 

Zwingli  advised  as^ain  and  again  that  this  should  be 
done,  and  repeatedly  expressed  his  regret  that  his  advice 
had  not  been  followed.  It  appeared  to  him,  as  he  had 
often  recommended,  that  an  occupation  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  cantons  would  be  less  objectionable,  and  also 
less  injurious  to  the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  than  the  pro- 
hibition of  trafiic  in  provisions.  Accompanied  by  Collin 
and  Wemer  Steiner,  Zwingli  attended  the  fourth  session 
of  the  Diet  at  Bremgarten,  although  in  so  doing  he  ex- 
posed himself  to  fatal  danger.  Under  cover  of  night  he 
secretly  reached  the  house  of  his  friend  Bullinger,  and 
there  conferred,  before  daybreak,  with  the  delegates 
from  Berae,  and  implored  them  to  take  the  welfare  of  the 
entire  Fatherland    into  consideration.      Moved  by  the 


ZWINGLI'S    DEATH    AT    KAPPEL.  183 

earnest  representations  of  the  Reformer,  they  promised 
to  do  their  best  to  avert  impending  evils.  If  the  dele- 
gates of  the  five  Roman  Catholic  cantons  had  known  of 
Zwingli's  presence,  his  days  on  earth  would  have  been 
nmnbered.  For  this  reason  three  members  of  the  City 
Council  guarded  Bullinger's  house  during  Zwingli's 
nightly  visit.  Before  daybreak,  Zwingli  took  leave  of 
Bullinger  at  the  gates  of  the  city,  where  a  heart-rending 
scene  of  sacred  friendship  marked  their  separation. 
Three  times  did  Zwingli  take  leave  of  Bullinger,  em- 
bracing him  and  weeping  bitterly.  Finally  he  blessed 
him,  saying:  "God  bless  you,  dear  Henry  ;  remain 
faithful  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  to  His  Church." 
He  then  rode  away  to  Zürich. 

When  Zwingli  arrived  in  Zürich  he  found  the  city  in 
the  greatest  state  of  excitement.  The  minds  of  all  were 
filled  with  apj)rehension  at  impending  danger.  Won- 
derful signs  appeared  in  the  heavens.  On  the  western 
horizon  was  seen  a  comet,  shining  as  if  in  a  state  of  con- 
flagration, its  pale  yellowish  light  extending  far  toward 
the  south. 

In  the  night  of  August  15th  Zwingli  stood  with  his 
friend  George  Müller,  the  former  Abbot  of  Wettingen, 
in  the  cathedral  cemetery.  To  the  question  of  the 
latter  as  to  the  significance  of  the  appearance  of  the 
comet  at  this  time,  Zwingli  replied  :  "  It  shines  to  light 
me  and  many  a  worthy  man,  who  love  to  see  truth  and 
right  triumph  in  the  Confederacy,  to  our  graves  !" 

"  Kot  indeed,"  answered  his  friend,  "  if  it  be  God's 
will.     God  will  not  permit  this  to  take  place." 

"  Tes,  yes,"  responded  Zwingli,  "  He  will  order  it 
thus  to  verify  the  sign  !  But  when  the  rod  is  applied  to 
the  house  of  God,  then  woe  be  to  the  enemies  of  the 
Gospel  !     God  will  maintain  His  cause,  even  if  it  should 


1S4  TUB    LIFE    or    ULUIt;    ZWIXGLI. 

appear  as  if  all  were  on  tlic  verge  of  ruin.  1  liaA'e  faith 
iu  our  cause,  for  it  is  good  and  true.  But  I  have  little 
confidence  in  the  people.  Our  only  comfort  is  in 
God  !" 

On  the  3d  of  September  the  comet  disappeared. 
It  had  been  a  terror  to  all  Switzerland,  and  had  been 
regarded  as  a  sign  of  the  wrath  of  God,  signifying  not 
only  the  shedding  of  blood,  but  the  death  of  many 
learned  and  renowned  men. 

Other  wonderful  signs  were  reported  from  the  several 
cantons,  but  all  of  a  similar  fearful  import.  From  the 
forest  cantons  was  heard  the  cry  :  ''  "War,  war  !  Blood, 
blood  !"  Yet  every  one  seemed  to  be  at  a  loss  what  to 
do.  Zwingli  alone  remained  calm  and  self-possessed. 
As  a  champion  of  God,  he  received  every  warning. 
His  soul-communion  with  God  strengthened  him.  His 
heart  was  filled  with  that  peace  which  the  world  cannot 
give.  His  faith  rested  in  Hira  who  once  spoke  to  his 
disciples  :  "  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give 
unto  you.  Not  as  the  world  giveth  give  I  unto  you. 
Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid  " 
(John  14  :  27). 

Once  more  he  lifted  his  warning  voice  from  the  pul- 
pit and  appealed  to  the  people  :  ''  The  most  faithful 
warnings  are  of  no  avail,  and  cannot  save  you.  You 
prefer  not  to  punish  the  foreign  pensioners  that  so 
haughtily  raise  their  heads  among  you.  They  have  a 
strong  support  among  yourselves.  Your  chains  are 
forged  ;  there  they  are,  link  after  link  ;  they  are  pre- 
pared to  throttle  me  and  many  a  pious  soul  of  Zürich. 
All  this  is  directed  fi gainst  me.  But  I  am  ready,  and 
submit  to  the  will  of  God.  Yet  these  people  shall  not 
be  my  masters.  You  will  not  punish  them,  hence  they 
will  punish  yon.     But  God  will  protect  His  Holy  Word 


ZWINGLl'S   DEATH    AT    KAPPEL.  185 

and  soon  end  their  glory.  May  God  protect  and  defend 
His  Church  !" 

Once  more  an  attempt  was  made  to  preserve  peace, 
but  in  vain.  The  forest  cantons  had  already  held  an  as- 
sembly in  Luzerne  and  determined  upon  war.  Yet 
Zürich  seemed  to  remain  careless.  Whatever  reports 
were  received  of  the  preparations  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic cantons,  they  were  not  credited  until  it  was  too  late. 
In  greatest  quiet  the  Catholics  guarded  all  the  roads  so 
that  no  communication  could  be  had  with  Zürich.  Her 
friends  in  Zug  and  Luzerne  were  themselves  shut  up  in 
their  valleys,  as  if  imprisoned.  Thus  Zürich  remained 
uninformed  as  to  the  resolutions  passed  by  the  forest 
cantons,  until  October  4th,  when  a  message  of  warning 
was  received  in  great  haste  from  the  cloister  at  Kappel  : 
"Arm  yourselves,  and  be  on  your  guard."  But  the 
warning  was  not  heeded. 

On  Sunday,  October  8th,  1531,  Zwingli  occupied  his 
pulpit  for  the  last  time.  On  that  day  there  arrived  a 
messenger  from  the  five  cantons  demanding  their  release 
from  the  Confederate  covenant.  Fear,  indecision,  and 
treachery  prevailed  in  the  city.  The  people  seemed  to 
have  become  cowardly,  and  their  leaders  wavering  in 
their  attachment.  Zwingli  alone  stood  firm  and  confi- 
dent. Immovable,  he  looked  unto  the  Lord  and  upon 
eternal  life  with  the  victor's  crown,  for  he  well  knew 
that  although  God  might  veil  His  countenance  He  would 
never  forget  His  own.  Thereupon  he  addressed  the 
wavering  and  despairing  populace,  as  if  he  beheld  the 
spectre  of  Home  rising  from  behind  the  Alps  to  deprive 
him  and  his  friends  of  their  faith  :  "  That  alone  is  our 
real  treasure,  to  have  God  as  our  friend,  whom  neither 
death  nor  any  earthly  power  can  tear  away  from  us. 
No,  no  !  I  shall  never  deny  my  Saviour." 


186  THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 

On  the  9tli  of  Octol)cr  it  was  reported  that  10,000 
men  had  issued  from  the  mountains  and  were  marking 
their  way  with  fire  and  blood  through  the  free  districts 
and  up  to  KappeL  On  Tuesday  morning,  the  10th  of 
October,  Captain  George  Goldli,  a  secret  friend  of  the 
Catliohcs,  was  sent  with  600  men  to  seize  and  hold  the 
town  of  Kappel,  distant  about  ten  miles  south  of  Zürich. 
The  artillery  did  not  follow  until  afternoon,  the  horses 
not  being  ready,  and  was  not  assigned  to  a  position  on 
the  field  until  the  next  morning.  Keinforcements  ar- 
rived from  Meilen  and  Grüningen,  so  that  the  united 
forces  amounted  to  1200  men. 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  outposts  reported  an  immense 
multitude  approaching  from  the  direction  of  the  Ail- 
ment. Goldli  marshalled  his  forces  and  formed  a  line  of 
battle.     They  then  knelt  in  prayer. 

On  Wednesday,  October  11th,  1531,  the  forces  of  the 
five  cantons  were  arrayed  upon  the  broad  plains  of  Baar 
and  prepared  to  advance.  They  had  the  advantage  of 
position,  ha\"ing  possession  on  their  right  of  a  highway, 
and  being  protected  by  a  forest  on  their  left.  The  soft 
ground  of  the  meadows,  on  the  other  hand,  was  to  their 
disadvantage,  for  the  progress  of  their  trains  was  im- 
peded ;  and  indeed  they  would  have  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  forces  of  Zürich  had  not  Goldli,  their  com- 
mander, treacherously  refused  to  permit  an  attack  upon 
the  enemy  in  his  embarrassed  position. 

In  Zürich  the  great  banner  of  the  canton  was  raised  on 
the  town  hall  on  the  morning  of  the  11th  of  October,  and 
all  capable  of  bearing  arms  were  summoned  to  assem- 
ble. During  the  night  about  500  men  had  been  sent  to 
the  free  districts,  and  400  men  to  Waedensschweil.  On 
this  account  it  was  difficult  to  raise  a  large  force  for  the 
main  army,  which  in  tliis  hour  of  its  greatest  danger 


ZWIKGLl'S    DEATH    AT    KAPPEL.  187 

oiierht  to  have  numbered  at  least  4000  men.  But  a  few 
hundred  men  gathered,  and  these  in  a  disorganized  con- 
dition ;  some  hastened  to  join  the  main  army  without 
their  commanders,  while  the  remainder  tarried  until 
afternoon,  took  the  oath  of  fealty,  and  slowly  prepared 
themselves  for  the  advance.  The  Council  itself  was  still 
uncertain  as  to  the  wisest  course  to  pursue.  Zwingli  ex- 
claimed :  "  If  we  tarry  here  much  longer,  I  fear  we  shall 
arrive  too  late  to  be  of  any  help  to  our  own  people.  It 
is  not  right  for  us  to  wait  and  hear  what  our  forces  are 
suffering  at  Kappel.  In  God's  name,  I  shall  go  down  to 
our  brave  soldiers,  to  die  with  them  or  to  help  save  them. ' ' 

"  According  to  one  of  our  ancient  Swiss  customs,  the 
great  standard  dare  not  leave  the  city  unless  one  of  the 
chief  pastors  will  accompany  it  !"  Such  was  the  uni- 
versal cry.  All  eyes  were  now  directed  upon  Zwingli. 
Some  said:  "We  cannot  do  without  his  counsel." 
Others  replied  :  "  Who  shall  comfort  us,  if  not  Zwin- 
gli ?  "  The  Council  now  appointed  him  as  cJiaplain  of 
the  army.  He  was  obliged  to  take  the  lield.  The  rem- 
nant of  the  yet  available  forces  was  assembled  in  the 
cathedral  square,  before  the  residence  of  the  Reformer. 
At  11  o'clock  he  appeared  at  the  door,  accompanied  by 
his  weeping  wife,  children,  and  friends.  His  counte- 
nance was  firm,  but  sad.  Standing  at  the  side  of  his 
horse,  he  said  to  his  weeping  wife  :  "'  The  hour  of  part- 
ing is  come  ;  the  Lord  wills  it  to  be  thus.  Ainen  !  He 
will  be  with  thee,  with  me,  and  with  our  children." 

"And  shall  we  never  see  each  other  again?"  asked 
his  wife,  tremblingly. 

"  If  it  be  the  Lord's  will  !  His  will  be  done  !"  re- 
plied Zwingli. 

"And  what  will  you  bring  back  to  us  again  ?"  in- 
quired his  wife. 


188  THE    LIFE    OF    LLlilC    ZWINGLI. 

'^  Blessings  after  the  dark  night,"  responded  Z^dngli. 
As  a  dying  one  blesses  his  own,  so  did  Zwingli  bless  his 
wife  and  children,  committing  them  to  the  care  of  God. 
And  kissing  his  children,  and  once  more  bidding  his 
wife  farewell,  he  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  away. 

"  We  shall  not  see  him  again,"  remarked  one  stand- 
ing near.  "  The  Lord  protect  him  !"  added  another. 
"  Ah  !"  said  a  third,  "  did  he  not  bid  farewell  to  Bul- 
linger  in  Bremgarten  lately,  as  a  man  that  is  advancing 
unto  death  ?*'     And  they  never  saw  him  again. 

"Without  looking  back,  Zwingli  accompanied  the  small 
number  of  men  that  hastened  to  the  relief  of  their  be- 
sieged countrymen  at  Kappel,  arriving  at  the  latter 
place  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  total  strength 
of  the  army  of  Zürich  amounted  to  ISOO  men,  while 
that  of  the  five  cantons  was  about  8000.  It  was  4 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  sun  was  about  setting. 
The  enemy  had  observed  the  reinforcements  which  the 
army  of  Zürich  had  received.  They  held  a  council  of 
war,  and  resolved  upon  an  immediate  attack.  With 
fierce  outcries  they  advanced  upon  the  forces  of  Zürich. 
A  bloody  conflict  ensued.  T\vice  they  were  driven 
back.  While  the  foremost  lines  were  bravely  resisting 
the  fierce  attack  in  the  front,  the  enemy  executed  a 
flank  movement  on  the  right,  which  struck  terror  into 
the  rear  lines,  caused  them  to  yield  and  take  to  flight. 
Those  grouped  about  the  banner,  seeing  this,  also  re- 
treated. The  enemy,  perceiving  the  success  of  his 
flank  movement,  returned  to  the  attack  in  front,  and 
now  drove  the  broken  lines  of  Zurich's  army.  Those 
that  survived  took  to  flight,  pursued  by  their  implacable 
foes.  The  dead,  the  wounded,  and  the  dying  filled  the 
ditches  and  were  thickly  scattered  by  the  way.  The 
banners  of  the  five  cantons  advanced  prudently  and  with 


ZWIXGLI'S   DEATH    AT    KAPPEL.  189 

closed  ranks  as  far  as  Allement.  The  enemy  was  every- 
where successful.  It  was  no  longer  a  battle,  but  a 
slaughter  upon  the  meadows  of  Kappel.  Zürich  had 
lost  the  day. 

As  the  leaders  of  the  five  cantons  passed  over  the  bat- 
tle-field, they  enjoyed  the  melancholy  pleasure  of  recog- 
nizing among  the  dead  of  Zürich  the  most  resolute 
defenders  of  the  Evangelical  cause.  Among  the  slain 
were  26  members  of  the  two  Councils  and  98  citizens  of 
Zürich,  steadfast  friends  of  the  Reformation.  Just  as 
bravely  fought  and  fell  their  brethren  from  the  country 
districts,  500  in  number.  According  to  an  old  Swiss 
custom,  the  pastors  of  the  congregations  were  obliged  to 
accompany  their  countrymen  to  the  field  of  battle.  Of 
these  that  comforted  their  countrymen  with  the  Gospel, 
25  fell  by  the  sword.  Of  the  25  slain  preachers,  7  were 
of  the  city  and  18  from  the  country.  Caj)tain  Göldli, 
tha.t  played  the  traitor  on  the  battle-lield,  removed  from 
Zürich  to  Constance.  The  total  loss  of  the  five  Roman 
Catholic  cantons  was  80  men,  that  of  Reformed  Zürich 
about  900  men.  But  there  was  one  death  more  bitter 
than  all  the  rest. 

Zwingli  stood  firm  at  his  post,  in  the  midst  of  the 
members  of  his  congregation,  with  helmet  upon  his 
head,  the  sword  at  his  side,  and  battle-axe  in  hand. 
This  was  in  accordance  with  old  Swiss  custom,  though 
Zwinffli  made  no  use  of  his  arms.  Durino;  the  former 
war  he  had  planned,  ordered,  and  conducted  every- 
thing, step  for  step,  with  untiring  application.  In  this 
second  war  he  occupied  a  passive  position,  awaiting 
with  melancholy  patience  coming  events,  and  foretell- 
ing their  sad  ending.  After  having  imparted  his  ad- 
vice and  admonition,  he  left  the  cause  in  the  hands  of 
the  Lord,  and  bowed  patiently  and  submissively  to  His 


190  THE    LIFE    OF    ULKIC    ZWIXÜLI. 

will.  The  close  of  liis  introduction  to  the  history  of  the 
sufferings  of  Jesns  presents  to  us  a  glorious  testimony  of 
his  submission  to  God  even  unto  death,  and  of  his  faith- 
ful following-  of  Christ.  These  words  indicate  the  spirit 
in  which  he  hastened  to  the  battle-field  of  Kappel  : 
""We  also  will  endeavor  to  remember  the  death  of 
Christ,  in  order  that  we  may  remain  brave,  steadfast,  and 
undismayed,  when  we  are  called  uj^on  to  suffer  for 
Christ,  for  truth,  and  for  righteousness." 

On  his  way  from  Zürich  to  Kappel,  Zwingli  was  heard 
praying  most  fervently  to  God,  and  commending  his 
body  and  soul,  as  well  as  the  Church,  to  His  care.  After 
the  flank  attack  had  been  made,  and  the  firing  of  the 
enemy  had  caused  disastrous  havoc,  Zwingli  was  heard 
making  inquiry  concerning  the  import  of  this  move- 
ment. "When  the  number  of  the  slain  had  sadly  in- 
creased, Bernhard  Sprüngli  entreated  him  to  encourage 
the  soldiers.  This  he  did,  by  saying  to  those  within 
hearing  :  "  My  dear  people,  be  of  good  courage,  be  not 
afraid.  Even  if  we  must  suffer  defeat,  ours  is  a  good 
cause.  Commend  yourselves  to  God,  who  can  help  us 
and  our  friends." 

Among  the  slain  lay  quite  a  number  of  Zwingli's  rel- 
atives by  blood  and  marriage.  And  in  the  midst  of  the 
noble  dead  lay  Zwingli  himself.  Twice  he  was  hurled 
from  his  horse  in  the  tumult  of  the  conflict,  but  each 
time  be  arose  and  stood  firmly  among  liis  comrades, 
until  he  fell  pierced  by  two  lances.  Natural  darkness 
stiiTounded  him,  but  in  his  soul  there  was  light,  for  he 
knew  in  whom  he  had  believed.  He  was  certain  of  the 
sweet  hope  that  Christ  was  his  life,  and  that  his  citizen- 
ship was  in  heaven.  And  so  he  cried  out:  "What 
matters  it  ?  They  may  kill  the  body,  but  not  the  soul." 
These  were  Zwingli's  last  words.     For  the  third  time  he 


ZWINGLl'S    DEATH    AT    KAPPEL.  191 

attempted  to  rise,  when  a  stunning  blow  upon  the  head 
felled  him  to  the  ground.  When  the  plundering  ene- 
mies, torches  in  hand,  were  torturing  the  wounded  and 
outraging  the  dead,  they  came  across  the  wounded  Re- 
former. Finding  him  still  alive,  they  asked  him  whetlier 
they  should  procure  a  priest  to  confess  him.  But  he 
gave  them  a  negative  answer.  Whereupon  the  brutal 
fellows,  without  knowing  him,  derided  him  as  an  ob- 
stinate heretic.  At  that  moment  Captain  \^okinger,  of 
Unterwaiden,  approached,  and,  seizing  his  sword  with  the 
ciy  of  rage  :  "  Die,  thou  obstinate  heretic,  shameful 
traitor  and  malefactor,"  he  inflicted  the  death-blow. 

Zwingli  died  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years  nine 
months  and  eleven  days.  All  night  long  his  remains 
lay  upon  the  battle-field,  near  to  the  highway  that  leads 
over  the  Albis  to  Zürich.  On  the  following  morning, 
when  the  victors  examined  the  battle-field  and  found  so 
many  distinguished  men  among  the  slain,  they  began  to 
comprehend  the  greatness  of  their  victory.  But  when 
they  beheld  Zwingli  dead  at  their  feet,  their  exultation 
knew  no  bounds.  The  expression  of  determined  cour- 
age with  which  he  died  remained  in  death.  Chaplain 
Stocker,  of  Zug,  who  knew  Zwingli  well,  testified  that 
he  looked  as  hale  and  hearty  as  in  life. 

The  old  Abbot  Schönbrunner,  formerly  of  the  Minster 
of  Zürich,  who  accompanied  Chaplain  Stocker  to  the 
battle-field,  when  he  beheld  Zwingli' s  remains,  could  not 
refrain  from  tears,  and  said  :  "  Whatever  your  faith  may 
have  been,  I  know  that  you  were  a  true  patriot.  God 
be  with  your  soul  !" 

Finally  the  drums  beat  and  the  entire  army  of  the  five 
forest  cantons  was  assembled  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  the 
remains  of  the  arch-heretic,  Zwingli.  The  pensioners 
cried  out:  "Divide  his  body  into  five  parts,  and  send 


19 V  THE   LIFB    OF    LLEIC    ZWINGLL 

one  part  to  eacli  of  the  five  cantons."  Two  officials 
from  Canton  Zug  admonished  tliem  to  let  the  dead  rest 
in  peace,  since  judgment  belonged  alone  to  God.  But 
with  a  wild  cry  of  rage  the  multitude  demanded  that 
Zwingli's  remains  should  ])e  quartered,  mixed  v»'ith 
dung,  and  afterward  consumed  by  fire.  The  hang- 
man of  Luzerne  executed  this  sentence.  The  ashes  of 
ZwingK  were  scattered  to  the  four  winds. 

At  7  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  first  news  of  the  terri- 
ble defeat  was  received  in  Zürich.  The  unexpectedness 
of  the  news  increased  the  fearfulness  of  the  blow. 
Anna  Zwingli  likewise  heard  the  crj  :  "  Zwingli  is 
dead."  The  unfortunate  widow  kissed  her  fatherless 
children,  knelt  with  them,  and  sobbed  :  "  Lord,  Thy  will 
and  not  ours  be  done. ' '  But  when  she  heard  that  her 
son  Gerald,  her  brother,  her  sons-in-law,  her  brother-in- 
law,  her  cousin,  and  many  of  her  friends  had  fallen,  she 
was  overcome  with  grief,  and  her  children  wept  bitterly 
with  her. 

The  news  of  Zwingli's  death  was  earned  with  the 
rapidity  of  lightning  through  all  Gennany,  The  Eoman 
Catholic  princes  and  rulers  sent  congratulatory  messages 
to  the  five  forest  cantons.  Austria  and  Rome  did  like- 
wise. But,  on  the  other  hand,  from  Alsace,  Swabia, 
Hesse,  and  many  German  cities  were  received  messages 
of  condolence  to  the  Council  of  Zürich.  These  com- 
forted the  people,  and  gave  them  to  understand  that, 
even  if  the  enemy  rejoiced  in  the  fall  of  Zwingli,  thou- 
sands of  hearts  in  all  Germany  beat  in  sympathy,  and  in 
tears  and  with  cries  of  sorrow  expressed  their  reverence 
for  the  great  Reformer. 

"  May  our  enemies  rejoice  because  of  his  mortal  re- 
mains, and  may  they  scoff  at  innocence.  He  yet  lives, 
and  %vill  forever  live.     The  brave  hero  has  left  a  me- 


ZVVINGLl'S   DEATH   AT   KAPPEL.  193 

morial  of  renovpn  that  no  flame  of  fire  can  consume. 
God,  to  whose  honor  he  labored  until  death,  will  glorify 
his  memory.  And  I,  for  whom  he  did  so  much,  will 
defend  his  reputation  and  praise  his  virtues."  Thus 
spake  Leo  Juda,  Zwingli's  faithful  assistant  at  the 
Church  in  Zürich.  Oekolampad,  who  died  in  grief  over 
the  result  of  the  battle,  on  the  24th  of  November,  im- 
])ressed  his  many  friends  in  Germany  that  Zwingli,  as  a 
faithful  shepherd  in  the  midst  of  his  flock,  had  given  his 
life  for  his  Fatherland  and  for  the  Church. 

Since  the  11th  of  October,  1531,  on  the  evening  of 
which  day  Zwingli  laid  down  his  life,  more  than  three 
centuries  have  passed  aM^ay,  and  many  generations  have 
come  and  gone.  But  Zwingli's  name  and  work  have  not 
disappeared.  They  yet  live,  and  exert  a  great  blessing. 
And  their  memory  among  us  would  be  infinitely  more 
regarded,  were  it  not  for  the  morbid  tendency  of  the 
spirit  of  our  times.  According  to  this  spirit  Zwingli  is 
unnecessarily  measured  and  judged  by  the  record  and 
person  of  Luther,  and  tlius  the  former  never  receives  his 
just  dues.  This  would  not  be  the  case  were  Zwingli 
judged  in  and  for  himself  alone. 

Zwingli  received  his  early  training  as  shepherd  son 
amid  the  Alps  of  Toggenburg,  receiving  there  at  the 
same  time  his  first  and  permanent  impressions  of  God's 
glory,  enabling  him  to  measure  the  emptiness  of  all 
human  display.  His  early  development  for  his  divinely- 
ap2:)ointed  calling  transpired  under  the  blessed  influences 
of  family  and  friends,  by  the  which  he  laid  hold  upon 
life  in  a  happy  and  courageous  manner.  This  enabled 
him  also  to  overlook  the  coarse,  degenerate  present,  and 
with  a  world-embracing  view  to  rejoice  beforehand  in  a 
better  future,  and  at  the  same  time,  with  God's  Word  in 
hand,  to  lay  its  foundations   wisely,  thoughtfully,    and 


J94  TUE    LIFE   OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI; 

systematically.  The  distressing  conditions  of  his  Con- 
federate  Fatherland  at  the  time  of  his  reformatory  activ- 
ity exerted  a  decided  influence  upon  his  life  and  career. 
His  premature  death,  by  which  he  was  suddenly  torn 
away  from  his  work  of  reconstructing  the  Church  must 
not  be  forgotten  in  a  just  estimate  of  his  life.  All  these 
are  considerations  that  speak  for  themselves,  and  form 
the  rule  or  measure  by  which  the  man  must  be  right- 
eously judged.  Nor  can  it  be  forgotten  that  in  less  than 
thirteen  years,  amid  the  most  serious  dangers  and  the 
most  obstinate  opposition,  he  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
entire  Reformed  Church  in  Switzerland  and  in  foreign 
parts. 

No  matter  what  the  judgments  of  other  Reformers  in 
other  countries  may  have  been,  Zwingliremains  the  great 
and  ever-beloved  Reformer  of  Switzerland,  the  leading- 
founder  and  father  of  the  whole  Reformed  Church. 
His  Church  Reformation,  realized  in  the  spirit  and  upon 
the  foundations  of  prophets  and  apostles,  found  an  echo 
in  the  j^opular  conscience,  and  is  cultivated  until  this  day. 

The  fraternal  ties  of  spiritual  communion  which 
Zwingli  established  with  Wiirtemberg,  Bayreuth,  and  the 
Palatinate,  Hesse  and  Brandenburg,  with  the  princes 
and  cities  of  the  Lower  Rhine,  with  England  and  Hol- 
land, have  endured  centuries  after  his  death.  And  they 
have  afforded  to  Switzerland  the  exalted  consciousness 
that  although  Zwingh,  her  greatest  teacher,  was  killed 
in  battle,  the  work  founded  by  him  is  indestructible. 

It  is  and  will  remain  an  ever-precious  sentiment,  what 
Bullinger  wrote  to  Zwingli' s  friends  and  admirers  in  for- 
eign lands  :  "  The  victory  of  the  truth  rests  in  the 
power  and  will  of  God,  and  is  not  bound  to  any  time  or 
person.  Christ  too  was  put  to  death,  and  His  enemies 
imagined  that  they  v.'on  the  victory.     But  -after  forty 


ZWINGLl'S   DEATH   AT   KAPPEL.  195 

years  had  passed  by,  the  triumph  of  Christ  was  revealed 
in  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  But  truth  does  not 
triumph  in  such  a  manner  as  if  it  suffered  no  oppression, 
but  rather  in  tribulation  does  it  find  its  realization.  But 
for  this,  faith,  patience,  and  perseverance  are  necessary. 
The  power  of  a  Christian  grows  more  powerful  in  M^eak- 
ness.  Hence,  beloved  brethren,  let  not  our  defeat  at 
Kappel  become  a  stumbling-block,  but  persevere  in  the 
"Word  of  God  !  This  has  always  won  the  victory,  even 
if,  on  its  account,  holy  prophets,  apostles,  and  martyrs 
Lave  been  reviled  and  put  to  death.  Blessed  are  they 
that  die  in  the  Lord  !  Victory  will  follow  in  due  time  ; 
for  a  thousand  years  are  in  God's  sight  as  one  day.  Nor 
is  there  but  one  kind  of  victory,  for  he  also  triumphs 
that  suffers  and  dies  for  the  sake  of  the  truth  I" 


CHUONOLOGICAL    TABLE    OF    EVENTS    IN 
THE    LIFE    OF    ULRIC    ZWINGLI. 


1484.  January  1st.     Zwingli  is  bom  at  Wildhaus,  in  Switzerland. 

1492.  Studies  at  Wesen  under  Bartholomew  Zwingli. 

1494.  Enters  the  St.  Theodore  school  at  Basel,  under  George  Biuzli. 

1497.   Studies  at  Berne  under  Henry  Wolliin  (Lupulus). 

1499.  Attends  the  University  of  Vienna. 

1501.  Teaches  in  St.  Martin's  Latin  School,  Basel. 

1505.  Receives  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  (Ph.D.). 

1506.  Is  ordained  priest  and  called  to  Glarus. 

1512-1515.  Accompanies  the  Swiss  troops,  as  Chaplain,  to  Italy. 

1516.  Accepts  a  call  to  Einsiedeln, 

1517.  Preaches  Forgiveness  of  Sins  through  Christ  alone. 

1518.  Denounces  the  Sale  of  Indulgences. 

1518.  Removes  to  Zürich,  in  obedience  to  a  call,  as  Chief  Pastor. 

1519.  Assumes  the  duties  of  his  new  Pastorate. 
1519.  Becomes  dangerously  ill. 

1522.  Condemns  Foreigu  Enlistments  of  Swiss  Mercenaries. 

1522.  Publishes  his  first  printed  work.     Fasting. 

1523.  Issues  his  67  Theses  and  engages  in  the  Church  Councils. 
1523.  Introduces  the  German  Language  in  the  Public  Services. 
1521.  Marries  the  Widow  Anna  Meier. 

1525.  Celebrates  the  Lord's  Supper  according  to  its  Institution. 

1529.  Attends  the  Marburg  Conference. 

1530.  Publishes  the  Bible  in  German. 

1531.  Issues  Commentaries  upon  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah. 
153L  October  11th,     Dies  on  the  Battle-field  of  Kappel, 


INDEX. 


A. 

Abbli  of  Glarus,  158. 
Agriculture,  8. 

Albkrt,  Emperor,  1.3  ;  assassinated,  15. 
Alemanni,  The,  8  ;  f  iiruish  a  new  poj>- 

ulatioii,  9. 
Aratok,  Nicholas,  1C5. 
"  Aucheteles,"  10."). 
AuosBuiio,  Diet  of,  1G2. 
Augustus,  The  Emperor,  8. 


B. 


Baden,  Church  Council  at,  145. 
Baptism,  A  new  formula  of,  115. 
Barbarism,  Keli^nous,  193. 
Bible,  The,    Zwingli's  translation   of, 

33  ;  estimate  of,  I'iiJ. 
BicoccA.  .59. 
BiNZLi,  George,  27. 
Blockade  of  the  frontier,  176  :   works 

evil,  183. 
Bdllingeb,  Henry,  80  ;  prefers  charges 

against    Samson,    81 ;     opinion     of 

Zwiiigli,  83  ;  after  Kappel,  1Ü4. 

BURQUNDIANS,  9. 


C. 

CAKTOKSin  Switzerland,  16. 

Castle,  A,  in  olden  times,  11. 

Charlemagne,  10. 

Charles  V.,  85;  at  Augsburg,  1C3. 

Children  of  Ulric  Zvvingli,  103. 

Church,  The  Christinn,  ü  ;  introduced 
into  Switzerland,  10. 

Church  services,  13S. 

Clemens  VII.,  58;  reproves  Zürich,  59  ; 
fonns  an  alliance  with  the  Catholic 
Cantons,  60. 

Cloisters  founded,  10. 

Comet,  Appearance  of  a,  how  regarded, 
183.  ° 

Confederact,  The  Swiss,  15  ;  constit- 
uent cantons  of,  IC. 

Congregation,  Government  of  the,  131. 


Conrad  of  Eechberg,  43. 

Constance.  The  Bishop  of,  105;  appeals 
to  the  Swiss  Diet,  106. 

Councils,  at  Zürich,  101 ;  again  con- 
vened, 107  ;  at  Baden,  145. 


Dominicans,  The,  28. 


E. 

Eck,  Dr.,  143  ;  invited  to  Zürich,  144. 
Einsiedeln,  43;  crowds    of   pilgrims 

to,  45. 
Ennius,   Papal    Legate,  54 ;   aslcs    for 

troop.",  50  ;  repeats  his  demand,  57. 
Erasmus,  41. 


F. 

Faeer,  Vicar-General,  91  ;  in  the  Zü- 
rich Council,  110;  his  designs,  143. 

Fasting,  104. 

Feige,  Chancellor,  150;  exhorts  to 
union,  151. 

Festivals,  Anew  order  of,  98. 

Forgiveness  of  sins,  45 ;  through 
Christ  alone,  40  ;  sold  for  monej-,  49  ; 
the  sale  continued,  79. 

Fhauenfield,  Synods  of,  180. 

Frederick  I.,  Emperor,  12. 


Gauls,  The,  7  ;  defeat  the  Ilelvetians,  8. 

German  language.  The,  introduced,!  15. 

Oessler,  14. 

Glareanus,  53  ;  encourages  Zwingll, 
75  ;  rejoices  in  Zwingli's  progress,  97. 

Glarus,  35  ;  its  atiachmeut  to  Zwingli, 
44. 

God,  Dependence  npon,  170  ;  and  His 
Word,  180. 

GÖLDLI,  George,  Captain,  186. 

Governors,  Ancient  Swiss,  13;  ex- 
pelled, 15. 


198 


IXDEX. 


H. 

Habsbcrg,  The  houfe  of,  13.  . 

Hedio,   Dr.,  48;    encourages  Zwingli, 

83 ;    writes  of    his  sickness,  88 ;   of 

Schiniier's  opinion,  91. 
TIelvetians',  8. 
Hetzek,  Ludwig,  115. 
Home  Life  op  Ulkic   Zwingli,  164  ; 

hi8  love  of  cliildren,  KiS. 
HoTTiSGEn,  110  ;  is  banished,  126. 
HvMNSof  Zwiugli,  89  ;  at  Kappel,  161. 


I. 

Images,  115;   how  treated,  116;  how 

disposed  of,  124  ;  as  kiudling-wood, 

127. 
Indulgences,  49  ;  sold  in  Switzerland, 

50 ;  at  different  prices,  79. 
Introdcction  to  the  mass,  Zwingli's, 

119. 


J. 

JuDA,  Leo,  32;  companion  of  Zwingli, 
33;  called  to  Einsiedelu,  53;  called  to 
Zürich,  99 ;  engages  in  the  Church 
Council,  119  ;  liis  tribute  to  Zwingli, 
192. 

Jdlius  II.,  Pope,  39. 


K. 

Kaiper,  Jacob,  Pastor,  executed,  156. 

Kappel,  The  first  war  of,  155  ;  its  treaty 
of  peace,  160  ;  a  failure,  161 ;  its  terms 
annulled  by  the  Catholic  Cantons, 
174  ;  the  second  war  of,  183. 

Kapi-el,  The  battle  of,  188. 


I.. 

Lenten  rules,  101 ;  discussed  in  Coun- 
cil, 104.  ,     „    . 

Leo  X.,  49  ;  his  designs  upoc  the  Swiss, 
54  ;  asks  lor  mercenailes,  55. 

Lord's  Supper,  The,  40;  no  sacrifice, 
118 ;  its  import  defined,  121  ;  in  both 
forms,  123;  administered  in  the  new 
way,  129. 

Louis  XII.,  of  France,  40. 

Luther,  his  relations  to  Zwingli,  135; 
how  estimated  by  Zwingli,  136;  at 
Marburg,  150;  defines  bis  position, 
151  ;  refuses  fellowship,  154. 

Luxuries,  Foreign,  64. 


JIarbubg  Conference,  The,  147. 
>tARif;NANo,  Battle  of,  40. 
Martyrs,  Protestant,  145;  a  noble  ex- 
aii>ple  of,  156. 


Maps,  The,  40;  Zwingli's  view  upon, 
43  ;  his  printed  views  upon,  116  ;  dis- 
cussed, 118;  is  not  the  Lord's  Supper, 
121. 

JIeier,  Anna,  Widow,  163. 

Melancutiion,  Philip,  148. 

Mercenaries,  38 ;  employed  by  the 
Pope,  38  ;  enlistment  of,  prohibited, 
.55  ;  asked  by  J'rance,  .56  ;  .suffer  severe 
losj^es,  58  ;  exert  a  degradini  influ- 
ence, 61  ;  number  of  men  elain,  64. 

Missionaries,  Early,  9 ;  their  labors, 
10  ;  their  stmggles,  25. 

Monks,  The,  oppose  the  Reformation, 
75;  hostile  to  Zwiugli,  91;  present 
charges,  93  ;  hinder  Gospel  preach- 
ing, 94  ;  their  preaching  void,  129. 

Murderous  Conspiracies,  141. 

Myconius,  51 :  encourages  Zwingli, 
92;  writesof  his  danger?,141. 


Nature,  Signs  of,  184. 
^'Ew  Testament,  The,  explained  In  ser- 
mons, 73-78. 


O. 

Oekolajipad,  149 ;  complains  of  Ln- 
ther's  treatment,  150;  (liscusses  with 
Luther,  151 ;  closes  the  debate,  153 ; 
his  death.  193. 

Order  of  Worship,  47. 


P. 

Palm  Mule,  The,  127. 

Party  Spirit,  62. 

Pensions,  The  system  of.  37;  tardily 
paid,  55 ;  forbidden  by  Zürich,  57 ; 
their  degrading  influence,  61 ;  im- 
mense amounts  paid,  63  ;  renounced 
by  oath,  126. 

PEiacoPES,  Preaching  from  the,  73. 

Persecutions  of  Protestants,  144  ;  con- 
liuned,  1.55. 

Philip  of  Hes=e,  147;  favors  Zwingli's 
teachings,  153  ;  exhorts  to  fellowship, 
153. 

Pictures,  116. 

Praise  Meetings  iu  Zwingli's  home, 
166. 

Priests,  Multitudes  of,  55;  ignorance 
of,  68  ;  one  of  them  beheaded,  68. 

Printing  presses,  69. 

Puccius,  Antoninus,  48  ;  demands  sol- 
diers, .55  ;  promises  reforms,  56  ;  hears 
the  truth  from  Zwingli,  82. 


R. 

Reformation,  The,  69;  its  .idvocatcß 
in  Switzerland,  70 ;  desired  by  tlo 
people,  71 ;  opposed  by  the  monks, 


INDEX, 


199 


75  ;  progresses  slowly,  Gl  ;  discussed 

in  a  Cuuucil,  107 ;   taking  flriu  root, 

129  ;  gaining  ground,  14G. 
■Reformers,  Swiss,  70. 
Relatives,  Zwingli's,  killed  atKappcl, 

102. 
Religion,  its  origin,  171. 
Rn.ETiANS,  The,  7 ;  the  tribes  of,  ß. 

RlI.BTIU.<,  7. 

RoMK,  53  ;  its  designs,  54. 

Roust,  Marx,  54. 

Rudolph  of  Hapsburg,  12. 

RÜTLI,  Covenant  of,  14  ;  enlarged,  13. 


S. 


Salvation  of  God,  IfiO. 

Samson,  Bernhardin,  49 ;  operates  at 
Berne,  79  ;  near  Zürich,  80  ;  is  driven 
away,  81. 

ScuiNNER,  Cardinal,  30  :  employs  mer- 
cenaries, 40  ;  acivised  by  Zwingli,  4S  ; 
hires  troops,  55  ;  favors  Charles  V., 
85. 

Schools,  Village,  123. 

ScnwYZ,  Canton,  forbids  pensions,  SG  ; 
persecutes  the  Reformed,  175. 

Simony,  56. 

Spire,  Diet  of,  147. 

Staeheli,  George,  9C  ;  relates  of  dan- 
gers, 139. 

Switzerland,  7  ;  its  ancient  inhabi- 
tants, 8  ;  part  of  the  German  Empire, 
11  ;  oppressed  by  An^itrian  governors, 
13  ;  struggles  for  independence,  15  ; 
the Conlederacy  established,  15  ;  Can- 
tons in,  10  ;  its  connection  with  JJonie, 
53  ;  nearly  ruined  by  foreign  inilu- 
ences,  G5. 

Synods,  Establishment  of,  131. 


T. 

Tell,  William,  14. 
Theses,  Zwingli's,  107. 
Tkutu,  its  import,  1(J7. 

'V. 

tJNivEr.siTiEs,  Influence  of,  71. 
UsuEERs  punished,  l'"i7. 

V. 

Vices  of  the  clergy,  C7. 
Vine  culture,  8. 

Virgin  Mary,  The,  45;  her  imago  re- 
moved, 47. 

W. 

"Waldenses,  The,  13 1. 

Wap.s,  Foreign.  38;  demoralizing  In- 
fluences of,  (j2  ;  money  spent'  upon, 
63. 


■WlLDHAUS,  18. 

Winter  evening  pastime«,  20. 
Wölplin,  Henry,  23. 
Writings  of  Zwingli,  173. 
Wyttenbach,  Thomas,  32  ;  hla  Gospel 
teachings,  33. 

Y. 

Year,  The  Old  and  the  New,  22. 


Z. 

Zell,  Matthias,  149. 

ZÜRICH,  51  ;  forbids  enlistments  and 
pensions,  57  ;  character  of  the  people* 
of,  G8  ;  breaks  with  the  Pope  and  for- 
eign lords.  85  ;  afflicted  by  the  plague, 
88  ;  resolves  upon  free  Gobpel  preach- 
ing, 97  ;  resolution  adopted  in  Coun- 
cil, 114  ;  as  to  the  images  and  mass, 
125;  abolishes  pensions,  127;  declares 
war  against  Sehwyz,  157 ;  marches 
against  Ziig,  15S ;  concludes  a  treaty 
of  peace,  luO  ;  demands  warlike  mea- 
sures, 170  ;  also  free  preaching,  176  ; 
is  surprised,  185  ;  sends  out  its  forces, 
186  ;  is  defeated,  188  ;  consternation 
at,  19G. 

Zwi.sGLt,  Anna,  Mrs.,  164  ;  her  interest 
in  her  husband's  work,  165 ;  takes 
leave  of  ht-r  husband,  186  ;  receives 
the  news  of  his  death,  192. 

Zwingli,  Bartholomew,  IJean,  27. 

Zwingli,  Ulric,  Sr.,  18 ;  his  family 
and  occupation,  19  ;  his  children,  23. 

Zwingli,  Ulric,  18  ;  his  parentage  and 
home,  18;  birth,  23;  mentil  powers, 
24;  youthful  impressions,  25;  moral 
development,  2C  ;  designed  for  tha 
ministry,  27;  studies  at  Wesen,  27; 
then  at  Basel,  27;  at  Berne,  28  ;  dis- 
like to  monasteries,  28  ;  returns  home, 
29  ;  goes  to  Vienna  and  studies  phi- 
losophy, 30;  his  student  friends,  30; 
returns  home,  30  ;  goes  to  Basel,  31  ; 
his  evangelical  convictions,  31  ;  is  ap- 
pointed teacher,  31  ;  his  love  of  music, 
31 ;  receives  a  degree,  32  ;  meets  Juda, 
33;  translates  the  Bible,  33  ;  finishes 
his  studies,  35 ;  is  ordained  priest, 
called  to  Glarus,  35 ;  studies  the 
Scriptures,  37 ;  attacks  vices  and 
abu-^es,  38;  receives  a  pension,  39; 
goes  to  v/ar,  40  ;  visits  Milan,  40;  re- 
solves iijjon  reform,  41  ;  a  firm  friend 
to  young  men,  41  ;  accepts  a  call  to 
Einsiedeln,  43;  preaches  Jesus,  45; 
introduces  a  Gernntn  ortler  of  worship, 
47  ;  discusses  the  Reformation  move- 
ment, 48  ;  is  bribed  by  the  Tope,  49 ; 
denounces  the  sale  of  indulgences,  50; 
is  culled  to  Zürich,  51 ;  secures  ap- 
pointments for  his  friends,  52  ;  preach- 
es against  foreign  enlistments,  57  ; 
his  writings  ))rjnted  and  circulated, 
69  ;  his  ciTcctlve  prcac  liing,  74  ;  op- 


200 


IXDEX, 


posed  by  the  monks,  T5  ;  explftlns  the 
Scriptui-ee,  76  :  his  inlluoncc  increus- 
iug,  81  ;  in  temporal  affairs,  85;  de- 
nounces ])onsi<)iis,  St) ;  becomes  dan- 
gerously ill,  SS  ;  composes  hynnif*.  8'J ; 
19  attacked  by  a  monk,  91 ;  by  other 
parties,  93 ;  boldly  proclaims  the 
truth,  95  ;  appoints  assistants,  9ü  ;  his 
enemies,  98  ;  invites  Juda  to  Zurich, 
99  ;  engages  in  councils,  101 ;  his  opin- 
ions on  Lenten  rules,  104;  publishes 
his  first  work,  104;  writes  "Archet- 
eles,"  105  ;  prints  67  theses,  107  ;  in 
the  Church  Council  at  Zürich,  109  ; 
introduces  German,  115  ;  his  opinion 
on  images  and  pictures,  116;  on  the 
Mass,  116;  engages  in  another  Coun- 
cil, 117  ;  writes  an  introduction,  119; 
secures  the  renunciation  of  pensions, 
126;  celebrates  the  Lord's  Supper, 
1.J9  ;  results  attained  in  1525,  133  ;  his 
relations  to  Luther,  135  ;  his  ojiinions 
of  Luther,  136  ;  intercedes  for  him, 
137  ;  presentiment  of  hi-  own  death, 
137;  attempts  upon  his  life,  139  ;  asks 
to  go  to  Marburg,  148 ;  departs  with- 
out permission,  149;  arrives  at  Mar- 


burg, 150;  debates  with  Lnther,  152; 
offers  the  hand  of  peace,  154  ;  in  favor 
of  war,  157 ;  concerned  about  his 
country,  159  ;  displeased  with  the 
treaty,  161 ;  sends  a  Confession  to 
Augsburg,  102  ;  marries  Widow  Meier, 
163;  his  children,  163;  his  home  life, 
164  ;  his  love  of  children,  166  ;  love  of 
music,  166 ;  his  sincere  character,  167  ; 
love  for  popular  festivities,  167  ;  per- 
sonal salvation,  170;  his  doctrines, 
169;  his  writings,  173;  his  life,  173; 
mourns  at  inactivity,  174  ;  is  derided, 

175  ;    demands    energetic    measures, 

176  ;  enemies  plotting  against  hira, 
177 ;  resigns  his  position,  178  ;  with- 
draws his  resignation,  179 ;  attends 
Synods,  180  ;  prepares  commentaries, 
181  ;  visits  the  Diet  at  Bremgarten, 
181  ;  views  the  comet,  18:3;  again 
warns  the  people,  184 ;  preaches  for 
the  hist  time,  185  ;  takes  leave  of  wife 
and  children,  186 ;  goes  to  the  front, 
186 ;  prays  fervently,  190 ;  his  last 
words,  190  ;  is  killed,  191 ;  ignomini- 
ously  treated,  192  ;  his  death,  how  re- 
ceived, 193. 


201 

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THE   LIFE  OF  ULRIG  ZWBE^SGLI. 

Translated,  from,  the  G-erixian  of  Rev.  tJE^AJST  G-ROB. 

This  volume  presents  the  life  of  the  Reformer  of  Switzerland,  "the  Mountain-Boy  of 
"WUdhaus,"  as  he  has  been  called,  In  a  hisnly  Interesting  manner.  The  400th  anniversary  of 
his  birth  calls  for  a  memorial  of  his  sincere  character  and  his  manly  career.  In  a  graphic 
and  at  times  dramatic  manner,  the  author  has  sketched  the  record  of  the  man,  the  states- 
man,-and  the  reformer,  from  his  liumble  birth  to  the  sad  ending  of  his  life.  He  has  also 
Incidentally  furnished  an  Insight  into  the  history,  government,  and  characteristics  of  the 
people  for  whom  ZwingU  lived  and  died. 


Ei^RLIKR,    NXJMIBEJRS. 

PAXTON  nOOD'S  LIFE  OF  CROMWELL.  No.  80,  Standard  Librakt  (No.  1. 
1S83  Series).    Price,  25  cents. 

SCIENCE  IX  SHORT  CHAPTERS.  By  W.  MATxiEtr  Williams,  F.R.S.A., 
F.C.S.    No.  81,  Standah»    Libkauy  (No.  2,  1883  Series).    Price,  25  cents. 

AMERICAN  HUMORISTS.  Br  R.  11.  Haweis.  No.  83,  Standard  Library 
(No.  3,  18S3  Series).     Price,  15  cents. 

LIVES  OP  ILLUSTRIOUS  SHOEMAKERS.  By  William  Edward  Winks. 
No.  83,  Standard  Library  (No.  4,  1883  Series).    Price,  25  cents. 

FLOTSAM  .'^ND  JETSAM.  By  Thomas  Gibson  Bowles.  No.  84,  Standard 
Library  (No.  5,  1SS;3  Scries).     Price,  25  cents. 

THE  HIGHWAYS  OF  LITERATURE  ;  or  What  to  Read  and  How  to  Read. 
Bt  David  Pryde,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.E.,  F.S.A.,  etc.  No.  85,  Standard  Library 
(No.  0,  1883SerifS).     Price,  15  cents. 

COLIN  CLOUT'S  CALENDAR.  A  Record  of  A  Sotimer.  By  Grant  Allen. 
No.  86,  Standard  Library  (No.  7,  1883  Series).     Price,  25  cents. 

THE  ESSAYS  OP  GEORGE  ELIOT.  Complete.  Collected  and  arranged,  with 
an  Introduction  on  lier  "  Analysis  on  Motives."  By  Nathan  Sueppard.  No.  87, 
Standard  Library  (No.  8,  1683  Series).    Price,  25  cents. 

AN  HOUR  WITH  CtlARLOTlE  BRONTE;  or.  Flowers  from  A  Tokkshirb 
Moor.  By  Laura  C.  Hollow  ay.  No.  88,  Standard  Library  (No.  9,  1SS3  Series). 
Price,  15  cents. 

SAM  HOBART.  By  Justin  D.  Fulton,  D.D.  No.  89,  Standard  Library  (No. 
10,  l-i83  Series).     Price,  25  cents. 

SUCCESSFUL  i\IEN  OP  TODAY.  Br  W.  F.  Crafts.  No.  90,  Standard  Li- 
brary (No.  11,  1883  Series).     Price,  25  cents. 

NATURE  STUDIES.  By  Gkant  Allen,  Andrew  Wilson,  Thomas  Foster, 
Edward  Clodd  and  Richard  A.  Proctor.  No.  91,  Standard  Library  (No.  12, 
1883  Series).    Price,  25  cents. 

INDIA,  WHAT  CAN  IT  TEACH  US  ?  By  Max  Müller.  No.  92,  Standard 
Library  (No.  13,  1883  Series).     Price,  25  cents. 

WINTER  IN  INDIA.  By  the  Rt.  Hon.  W.  E.  Baxter,  M.P.  No.  93,  Standard 
Libuary  (No.  14,  1883  Series).    Price,  15  cents. 

SCOTTISH  CHARACTERISTICS.  By  Paxton  Hood.  No.  94,  Standard  Li- 
braky  (No.  15,  188;3  Series).      Price,  25  cents. 

HISTORICAL  AND  OTHER  SKETC'HES.  By  Jas.  Anthony  Froude.  No. 
95,  Standard  Librauy  (No.  10,  1Ä83  Series).     Price,  25  cents. 

JEWISH  ARTISAN  LIFE  IN  THE  TIME  OF  CHRIST.  By  Franz  Delitzsch, 
D.D.    No.  93,  Standard  Library  (No.  17,  1883  Series).    Price,  15  cents. 

SCIENTIFIC  SOPHISMS.  By  Samuel  Wainwright,  D.D.  No.  97,  Standard 
Library  (No.  IS,  18R3  Series).     Price,  25  cents. 

ILLUSTRATIONS  AND  MEDITATIONS.  By  Charles  H.  Spurgeon.  No.  S8, 
Standard  Library  (No.  10,  1883  Series).     Price,  25  cents. 

FRENCH  CELEBRITIES.  By  Ernest  Daudet,  and  others.  No.  99,  Standard 
Library  (No.  20,  18S3  Series).     Price,  15  cents. 

BY-WAYS  OF  LITERATURE.  By  David  H.  Wheeler.  No.  100,  Standard 
Library  (No.  21,  1883  Series).    Price,  25  cents. 

THE  LIFE  OP  MARTIN  LUTHER.  By  Dr.  William  Rein.  No.  101,  Standard 
Library  (No.  23.  1883  Series).    Price,  25  cents. 

FRENCH  CELEBRITIES.  Part  Second.  By  Jules  Clabetib,  and  others.  No. 
102,  Standard  Library  (No.  23,  1883  Series).    Price,  15  cents. 

OUR  CHRISTMAS  IN  A  PALACE.  Br  Edward  Everett  Halb.  No.  10-% 
Stankaiii)  Library  (No.  24.  18*3  Series  i.    Price,  2.5  cents. 

WITH  THE  POETS.  By  Canon  Farrar.  No.  101.  Standard  Librart  (No.  25, 
t-'Ä^  Sttri«:).     Pi-ice.  25  cents. 


202 

SHALL  THE  STANDARD  LIBRARY  BE 


The   Opinion    of   Eminent   Men. 

FROM  LETTERS  RECEIVED  IIV  THE  LiAST  THREE  WEEKS. 


U,  S.  Chief  Justice  M.  R.  "Waite,  Washington,  ■writes  A'ou.  12,  1S83: 
"Such  a  republication  of  standard  works  aa  you  propose  for  1S84  will  bo 
productive  of  a  vast  amount  of  good.    What  you  have  done  in  the  past  is  good 
evidence  of  your  ability  to  judge  of  what  the  work  requires." 
Mark  Hopkins,  lilj.D.,  Pres,  of  "Wüliams  College,  writes  liov.  14,  1883: 

•'  Messrs.  Funk  &  Wagnalls  propose,  if  sufilcient  encouragement  should  ba 
given,  to  continue  for  another  year  the  publicatioE.  of  cheap  and  valuable  reading 
lor  the  masses.     I  heartily  indorse  the  project,  and  wish  it  every  success." 

John  Hall,  D.D.,  New  York,  writes  Kov.  12, 1883: 

"  The  books  of  your  Standard  LrBBAEY  have  been  useful  and  attractive, 
and  tlie  foreign  authors  suffer  no  wrong  from  your  reprint.  I  can  recommend 
the  continuance  of  your  undertaking,  for  good  books  are  one  of  the  most  effective 
Trays  of  superseding  the  bad." 

John  'W^anamaker,  Philadelphia,  writes  iVbu.  12, 1883: 

"You  are  using  the  right  club  to  kiUofl  the  bad  books.  *  *  A  new  book 
every  fortnight  like  those  you  last  published,  will  go  tar  to  '  cast  out  the  devils  * 
of  degrading  literature.  *  *  Your  project  to  pubhsh  good  books  so  cheaply  la 
one  of  the  greatest  achievements  of  the  century." 

Joseph  T.  Dnryea,  D.D.,  Boston,  Mass.,  writes  Nov.  G,  1883: 

"  I  have  examined  the  books  offered  for  sale  on  the  railways,  and  have  con- 
Tersed  with  the  agents.  I  learn  that  books  of  low  grade,  and  even  of  pernicious 
influence,  have  been  largely  read.  A  direct  eifort  to  suppress  them  would  meet 
■with  opposition  on  the  ground  that  it  implies  a  limitation  cf  personal  liberty. 
VChe  only  resource  left  is  to  supplant  them  by  offering  better  books,  which  aro 
at  the  same  time  attractive,  and  the  competition  will  need  to  be  favored  by  tha 
cheapness  of  the  competing  volumes.  I,  thercfcre,  hope  you  may  be  encouraged 
to  publish  a  series  for  the  coming  year." 

Oen.  Clinton  B.  Fisk,  New  York,  writes  Kov.  18, 1SS3: 

"  Your  magnificent  campaign  for  cheap  good  bocks  should  have  the  support 
of  every  lover  of  intelligence  and  ■virtue.    JPush  the  publication  of  a  good,  low- 
priced  book  every  fifteen  days,  and  put  me  down  as  a  subscriber  for  all  o/ihem," 
J.  O.  Peok,  D.D.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  writes  Kov.  13, 1383: 

"  Your  plan  for  ISS-t  is  worthy  of  the  courage  and  conscience  of  Luther.  May 
your  reformation,  like  his,  overspread  the  land." 

Hon.  Rosooe  Conkling,  New  York,  writes  Nov.  7, 1£83: 

"  You  seem  to  try  to  put  sense  in  place  of  trash  in  cheap  books.  This  is  well 
worth  wliile.  You  have  shown  it  can  be  done.  My  hope  and  wish  go  with  you." 
Thomas  Armitage,  D.D.,  New  York,  writes  Nov.  5, 1833: 

"  The  good  which  has  been  done  by  your  publications  of  the  last  year  Is  in- 
calenlable,  and  if  you  can  afford  to  continue  these  issues  you  'will  help  to  buildup 
many  a  mind  that  Is  aUurst  ■vitbout  other  means  to  quench  the  oravinjc." 


,208 

MajoroGen.  Geo.  B.  MoClellan,  Orange,  N.  J.,  Tprites  A'o».  u,  18:«: 

"I  indorse  most  heartily  your  plan  for  furnishing  standard  books  to  the 
people  at  low  rates  during  1884.    It  deserves  cordial  support." 
Gen.  Stewait  Ij.  Woodford,  New  York,  writes  iVb«.  10, 1883: 
I        "Your  effort  to  furnish  good,  wholesome,  instructive  and  interesting  booka 
at  low  prices  deserves  success.    Your  list  of  booka  for  1883  seems  admirably 
chosen." 

Ez-Vioe  President  Sclinyler  Colfax,  South  Bend,  Ind.,  writes  Nov.  9r 
"  All  success  to  you  in  your  plans  forlSSl.  Your  publication  of  such  meri- 
torious and  instructive  books  during  the  past  year  at  such  low  prices  was  a  mar- 
vel indeed,  and  you  have  proved  yourselves  public  benefactors  by  this  good  work. 
In  my  railroad  travels  I  have  read  a  number  of  them  wi;h  interest  and  profit, 
and  they  are  among  the  most  highly -prized  volumes  in  my  library.  I  should  re- 
joice to  hear  that  you  had  pushed  their  sales  up  into  the  millions,  superseding, 
as  your  series  has  already,  so  much  of  tho  other  kind  of  "  cheap  literature,"  which 
la  merely  sensational  or  frivolous,  if  not  worse." 

J.  Xi.  Burrows,  IS.D.,  Norfolk,  Va.  (lato  of  Louisville,  Ky.),  writes  jVov.  7: 
"  I  think  your  method  of  distributing  healthful  books  cheaply  by  mau  fort- 
nightly an  admirable  one,  especially  for  these  possessing  only  small  libraries  and 
few  leisure  hours  for  reading.  Their  taste  for  what  is  solid  and  instructive  will 
be  so  educated  that  they  will  loso  relish  for  what  is  superficial  and  debasing.  I 
sincerely  wish  that  your  patrons  may  be  indefinitely  multiplied." 

A.  C  Wedekind,  S.D.,  New  York,  writes  Nov.  14, 1883: 

"I have  watched  with  great  interest  the  progress  made  with  your  Standard 
LrBEABT,  and  from  my  heart  I  wish  you  abundant  success.  You  are  on  the  right 
track.  May  parents  and  the  people  generally  enable  you  to  keep  on  it.  You  sup- 
plant the  vici  5US  and  the  pernicious  by  tho  healthful  and  tho  helpful  style  of 
literature.    God  prosper  you  in  your  noble  work." 

Charles  H.  Hall,  S.D.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y  ,  writes  Nov.  9,  1883: 

"  Having  watched  with  careful  attention  the  process  of  your  experiment  in 
publishing  reading  matter  for  the  masses  at  a  cheap  rate,  I  am  satisfied  that  yoo 
have  redeemed  fully  every  promise  made  by  you  at  the  stirt.  Experience  has 
suggested  the  further  improvement  of  excludijig  all  controversial  and  sectarian 
publications,  which  is,  in  my  judgment,  a  wise  measure.  I  have  myself  read 
with  pleasure  what  you  have  given  us,  and  very  many  others  have  used  somo  of 
my  volumes  with  profit.  I  wish  for  you  the  greatest  success." 
Charles  "W.  Cnshing,  Kochester,  N.  Y.,  writes  Nov.  13, 1883: 

"  Your  circular  just  received  brings  the  good  news  that  you  are  In  the  field 
again  with  a  proposition  to  continue  the  publication  of  the  cheap  good  books — ■ 
ihe^e  is  already  superabund nee  o/  cheap  had  oms — for  the  year  1884.  I  am  glad, 
thankful,  hopeful.  The  good  which  must  come  from  the  circulation  of  such  a, 
number  of  books,  choice  and  timely  as  those  which  have  already  appeared,  is  be- 
yond the  realm  of  computation.  It  must  be  true  that  good  men  and  women  will 
give  the  help  which  wül  insure  success,  if  they  can  only  bo  made  to  see  tho  im- 
port of  the  undertaking.    I  pray  that  you  may  find  all  needful  co-operation." 

Hev.  George  F.  Pentecost,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  writes  Nov.  12,  1883: 

"  I  know  of  no  single  publishing  enterprise  which  I  think  Is  calculated  to  do 
BO  much  good  as  this  one  of  yoiirs.  You  deserve  the  benediction  of  the  wholo 
pul)lic,  and  the  hearty  co-operation  of  tho  entire  Christian  Church.  Good  bless 
you  in  your  effort  to  stamp  out  bad  literature  under  the  feet  of  good. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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■9-50m-9,'60(B3610B4)444 
as  cheap  aa  bad  ones,  and  this  helps  to  checkmate  an  evil  only  second  to  rum 
Belling — the  sale  of  poisonous  literature." 
W.  "W.  Everts,  D.D.,  Jersey  City  Heights,  N.  J.,  -writes  Nov.  6, 1883: 

"  There  is  no  adequate  remedy  against  this  formidable  and  growing  evil  cf 
sensational  literature  without  cheapening  and  multiplying  good  books.  The  suc- 
cess of  your  series  of  first-class  books  in  1383  assures  a  greater  success  in  1884. 
Let  them  be  8catterefyijr|  ^^yf^Ptffl^fg^  and  they  BbaU  be  for  the  healing 
of  the  land."  In»    ^  ^  .  »  ii-w^T»xr¥A- 

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